Fiorella warms up for Fillies Guineas
FIORELLA’S participation in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas hangs in the balance after she drew 20 out of 23 when the computer spat out the draws at nominations on Monday.
The first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara will be run at Turffontein on Saturday, March 3, and a lot may depend on how the daughter of Captain Al performs at Scottsville this afternoon where she is due to run in the GCC Fast Tracked Handicap over 1 600m.
Howells
Fiorella carries top weight in a competitive handicap and given a good showing, Duncan Howells may well be tempted to let his filly take her chances in the Fillies Guineas in spite of the draw – after all there is only one crack at the classic.
Fiorella was a game winner when getting the better of luckless stable companion Dawn Calling at Scottsville last month and although well beaten by Hashtagyolo in the Flamboyant Stakes, it was more of a warm-up after running Dean Kannemeyer’s highly rated filly to within two lengths prior to that.
Kannemeyer has not had much luck with barrier draws in feature races recently with Last Winter drawing 20 in the Sun Met and Hashtagyolo pulling one gate further out than Fiorella in the Guineas.
But Hashtagyolo is a definite runner and Kannemeyer has already booked Piere Strydom.
Hashtagyolo was ridden by Anthony Delpech in all of her three wins from three starts in Fillies KZN, but due to contractual commitments, Kannemeyer was obliged to find a new rider.
“I was extremely pleased to secure the services of Piere Strydom to ride this very promising filly in Anthony’s absence,” said Kannemeyer.
“She has been in Johannesburg a few weeks and has settled well. She did some pace work over 800m last week. She will be given a gallop at Turffontein over 1 400m about ten days before the big race. All going well, she will be aimed at the Triple Tiara.
She is a filly who is looking for ground,” he added.
A further plus in Fiorella’s favour today is that her last win came in soft ground and the forecast for Scottsville today does appear to be damp and with the Greyville poly currently undergoing a revamp, there is no chance of a venue change.
Pearl Glow
Fiorella’s obvious danger is likely to be Kannemeyer’s filly Pearl Glow, a winner of two of her last three outings and a close-up second to the useful Ideal Winter last time out.
Only once out of the money in six outings, she should give Kannemeyer and Howells an inkling to where they are headed.
Sunset Eyes will be looking for a hattrick of win in the GCC Takeover Handicap but is up against some smart younger horses in the form of Varallo, Shot.
Sunset Eyes has come well since his move to Brett Crawford’s KZN satellite yard where he arrived a one-time winner from a dozen outings.
He gave notice of his improvement first time out and has since built on that showing with two smart wins.
He does face a much stiffer task this afternoon and Ryker and Varallo will be no pushovers. Ryker and
Ryker
Sniper
Ryker disappointed behind Sunset Eyes at their last outing, finishing last of the seven runners, but it was a well below par performance judged on his earlier form.
He is now 3g better off, given apprentice Denis Schwarz’s 1.5kg claim, and he should come up with a better showing this afternoon.
Varallo gives weight to the field and boast some smart form in useful company. However, he has not been out since early December and this will be his second outing for Dennis Bosch.
It will also be his first start since gelding so he may be just short of a gallop.