By Mark Van Deventer
GIMMIE’S COUNTESS has drawn the awkward, outside barrier of 12 in the Western Cape Fillies Championship (Gr 2) but she will still go off as favourite after a dominant display in the Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes over the same 1400m distance, 42 days ago.
Dean Kannemeyer’s 3YO Gimmethegreenlight filly used her considerable powers of acceleration to run down SUMMER LILY and will try repeat the feat off her official merit rating of 111, which puts her clear of Gr 1 placed, SYMPHONY IN WHITE (OMR 105) and Irridesence Stakes winner, KINDA WONDERFUL (OMR 104). She ought to have tightened up since that win and should prove too classy for the opposition.
Other than those two dangers already mentioned, MAI SENSATION, MON PETIT CHERIE and LITTLE SUZIE could prove better than currently rated. The latter is a daughter of Trippi ex Oh Susanna so is bred in the purple. She is improving fast and comes in here off a fluent Maiden score plus she is ideally berthed in gate 1.
MAI SENSATION was unfortunate to get beat by BEWARE THE BOMB in a race where things conspired against her. She has a zippy turn of foot, which can propel her into the fray, assuming JP van der Merwe finds a clear passage this time.
MON PETIT CHERIE, like MAI SENSATION, followed up a heavily backed Maiden win with a good effort in a Class 4, despite a slow start. Brett Crawford’s Rafeef filly closed willingly to get within spitting distance of Kaiboy and is potentially smart.
The Laisserfaire Stakes (Race 6) takes place 35 minutes earlier, at 15h00. 13 entries have been received in this 1100m handicap for fillies and mares three years and older.
NORDIC QUEST has the most appealing profile: this dependable, 5 x winning daughter of Querari continues to impress with her tractability and finishing speed. She can sit just off the early tempo then launch a strong bid – waiting tactics that have helped her win half her career starts to date and earn an OMR of 102. Aldo Domeyer handles her skilfully; they have won three of five starts together.
Hers is not the highest rating in the field, however. Sceptre Stakes second, ASIYE PHAMBILI (OMR 111) who has been set the steadying burden of 63.5kgs and PINEAPPLEMINTGREEN (OMR 104 – carries 60kg’s) top NORDIC QUEST’s mark.
BE MERRY, SUMMER LILY and SOUTHERN SKIES are others to consider. The first two named are trained by Justin Snaith with the now blinkered SUMMER LILY coming in off a laudable second to high-class, GIMMIE’S COUNTESS in the Diana Stakes while the progressive Lancaster Bomber youngster, BE MERRY, will try extending her three-wins-in-a-row Hollywoodbets Durbanville sequence now that racing returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
SOUTHERN SKIES is also on a four-timer. She has a game victory over NORDIC QUEST in her past performances dating back to May ’24 and must be respected on that. In addition, Richard Fourie, unbeaten on her in three starts, retains the faith.
Moving from sprinting scurries to stayer’s events – the 14h25 (Race 5) is the Woolavington Stakes (Listed) over 2500m. A glance at the officially best weighted ranking has them closely clustered with LOVE IS A ROSE, PONTE PIETRA, CALL TO UNITE, OTTO LUYKEN and FUTURE SWING grouped within four points of each other.
An old racing maxim is, when in doubt, to support the top weight. By that reasoning, FUTURE SWING gets the nod. He will be fitter after his seasonal bow when unlucky behind re-opposing, BARATHEON, who may be a better horse at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, in any case.
And FUTURE SWING’s KZN Winter form over ground, barring the rodeo show Hollywoodbets Durban July debacle, was excellent. He has a fine record at this course, stays the trip no problem and has a running style which gives champion hoop, Richard Fourie positional options.
That said, exotic bettors may want to load up in this Leg. It’s simply too close to call with confidence. HOLDING THUMBS (a dangerous light weight receiving 9kgs from the top weight); the enigmatic but classy-on-his-day, PONTE PIETRA (who rates near to FUTURE SWING on Durban lines of form); budding marathon runner, DAIMYO and proven stayer, VIHAAN’S BOMB are unwise to summarily dismiss.
