Hidden Thought will relish the step up
THE Listed East Coast Cup over 2 000m is the supporting feature at Greyville’s WSB 1900 meeting on Saturday. Leaves Of Grass is an Australian-bred daughter of Poet’s Voice and could be well handicapped.
She was 2kg under sufferance when winning the Listed Jamaica Handicap over this trip at Kenilworth in January and her new eight point higher merit rating of 84 falls at exactly the top of one of the merit rated bands in this race.
She was flying at the finish of the Scarlet Lady having come from last. She will enjoy the step up in trip, but on the downside she does have a tough draw of eleven out of eleven.
Franking
Franking is a big, galloping daughter of King Of Kings who has cracked a good draw of three. It should be noted that she has been carded with the wrong weight of 57kg and will actually be carrying 55,5kg.
Last time out in the Scarlet Lady she was caught one wide just off the lead and was then cramped in the straight just when she had unwound into her big stride.
She will relish this step up in trip, being by King Of Kings out of Jet Master mare Bennie And The Jets, who finished third in the Oaks Trial over 2 200m.
She would likely prefer a galloping track but will be dangerous if getting into a nice handy position, or leading, from this good draw.
Parabola quickened superbly when winning the Scarlet Lady. Her merit rating was raised four points to 91 and that falls near the bottom of her band so it will be tougher this time, but as a fouryear-old daughter of Silvano she will be coming into her own.
Ngaga
Ngaga was caught wide throughout in the Scarlet Lady so can be forgiven the unplaced run and she now has a plum draw of two and has also been lowered three points by the handicapper.
Her new 99 merit rating falls exactly at the top of the highest band in this race, so she is the best weighted horse in the race according to official merit ratings together with Epona. She should enjoy this trip. Epona won this race last year, but comes in with worse form this year and will need to bounce back.
Fantasy Lady
Fantasy Lady quickened well from the box seat in the Scarlet Lady to hit the front and she was staying on well when hampered late so is better than the bare result suggests and could be a player here from pole position over a trip she stays.
Kahula was cramped for room in the Scarlet Lady but was staying on well, so is another with a fine chance as her merit rating of 89 is at the top of one of the bands and she should enjoy the trip. However, she does have a tricky draw of eight. Royal Utopia is a galloping type who could lead. In her penultimate start over 1 800m at Turffontein she finished 4,4 lengths behind the Grade 1 winner Orchid Island at Turffontein when receiving 4,5kg, which was not a bad effort.
She stays this trip and will be coming into her own being a four-year-old by Ideal World. However, she makes breathing noises which is a concern.
Hidden Thought
Hidden Thought is a progressive three-year-old and being by Lateral will relish this step up in trip. However, she has to face her stablemate Franking at level weights, as opposed to the 2kg she would receive in a normal handicap, so this is a tough ask in her first attempt at earning black type.
Onesie ran well in her penultimate start at Scottsville but has a tough task on the form of the Scarlet Lady.
However, she is better drawn this time and is another four-year-old by Ideal World, so will be coming into her own.
Being Fabulous is a talented filly who is better than her form suggests.
This is her third run with blinkers and she might give more effort with Mark Khan aboard who makes a horse know it's in a race.