Danielson raring to go
JOCKEY Raymond Danielson believes he is on the horse to beat in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1 800m on Saturday, Smiling Blue Eyes, but he is concerned about the filly’s Sean Tarry-trained stable companion Safe Harbour.
He said about his own mount, “She is doing well and is herself. We are looking forward to it, but she is the right horse in the race, so there is a bit of pressure.”
Smiling Blue Eyes has won the Gr 3 Fillies Mile and Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas in her last two starts, despite them being three months apart.
She is by Dynasty out of a Badger Land mare, so will stay the 1 800m trip on pedigree. In fact she has already proved she stays it by winning her maiden over 2 000m by 5,75 lengths from an older filly Cidada, who went on to win two of her next three starts.
In the Gauteng Fillies Guineas Smiling Blue Eyes had to jump from draw 16 of 16 and ran in the three lane, but she did have cover the whole way. She showed a fine turn of foot before staying on resolutely. This time she is drawn in six.
Al Hawraa
Danielson named the Gauteng Fillies Guineas runner up, Al Hawraa, as a danger along with Safe Harbour.
He said, “Al Hawraa found trouble in the Guineas.”
This Australian-bred by New Approach was making a telling forward move when her stablemate Ektifaa drifted across her just before the 300m mark, forcing her to switch.
She then had to bide her time before a gap opened and by the time it had the bird had flown.
However, she was 2,6 lengths back at the line and would likely not have caught Smiling Blue Eyes anyway as the latter won comfortably and was being eased down at the line.
Al Hawraa is by the Epsom Derby winner New Approach out of a Redoute's Choice mare and gave the impression in that last start she would enjoy this trip.
Danielson revealed Smiling Blue Eyes and Safe Harbour had worked together last week. Based on that work together with Safe Harbour’s best form, he rated her a danger. He said Safe Harbour appeared to be back to herself.
Safe Harbour, a long-striding daughter of Elusive Fort, had a tough campaign in Cape Town.
She won the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m, was a narrow runner up in both the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1 800m, before finishing fifth to the boys in the US$500,000 CTS Mile and was the first filly home.
In the Gauteng Fillies Guineas she jumped from a wide draw and her 8,55 length tenth was clearly below par. Safe Harbour is by Elusive Fort out of an unplaced Rakeen mare, who is a half-sister to a five times-winning Listed victor, whose wins were from 1 800-2 000m. Furthermore, her full-brother won over 2 400m, albeit in a maiden race in Port Elizabeth.
So on pedigree she should enjoy the tough Turffontein 1 800m. Indeed, in the Paddock Stakes over the easier Kenilworth 1 800m she burst through well and was only caught on the line.
Safe Harbour has a tough draw of eleven to overcome in the 13 horse field on Saturday and champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo replaces her regular pilot Weichong Marwing.
Tilbury Fort
Danielson rides the Tarry-trained Tilbury Fort in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1 800m. He believes this Horse Chestnut colt is looking for this ground and will ride him with confidence.
He rode him in his last two starts, to a 2,8 length fourth in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and a 0,5 length second in a MR 84 Handicap over 1 600m last time out. However, he was only running off an 84 merit rating in that last start. Therefore, there must be a question whether he is up to Gr 1 class, although on the other hand it was likely a preparation outing. Danielson pointed out that in his belief the three that beat him in the Gauteng Guineas, Janoobi, Al Sahem and Heavenly Blue, would all enjoy the step up in trip to 1 800m, so he will have a tough task to reverse the form. Danielson has always been a good big race rider, being cool, calm and collected as well as an astute tactician.
He does particularly well on those he has ridden before as one with both a good affinity for horses who quickly learns their ins and outs.