Hot pace makes ‘Neptune’ reign
NEPTUNE’S RAIN sounded a warning for the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint to be run at Scottsville next month as she turned in a smart performance in the KwaZuluNatal Stakes (Listed) at Greyville yesterday.
The switch from turf to poly after Scottsville’s Sunday meeting was moved to Greyville will have turned some of the expected form upside down and it was the case for a few. Writing on his website, Duncan Howells was of the opinion that Neptune’s Rain may just need the outing and that five furlongs on the poly would be way too short and sharp for her.
In hindsight it may have been a wrong call as the diminutive but quick Hashtag Strat was turned loose from the jump and had the field off the bit inside the first furlong with stable companion Captain’s Girl in close attendance.
Lacking early speed, Anton Marcus was rousing Neptune’s Rain along in the rear-guard and was still scrubbing hard at the top of the straight.
Killer pace
But the killer pace had taken it’s toll as the opposition fell away.
At this stage Captain’s Girl had relegated Hashtag Strat to the alsoran brigade and even fooled the on-course photographers who had her in their viewfinders as the most likely winner and missed the winning shot completely.
They were not to blame as once Neptune’s Rain cleared the traffic she powered home on the outside to win going away with Captain’s Girl game on the inside. Favourite Jo’s Bond was prominent early but failed to fire when it counted.
Billy Silver, having his second run back after a rather disappointing Cape sojourn for Dennis Bosch, started favourite for the sixth and in spite of going down in the last stride, he is one for the notebook.
Richard Fourie pressed forward from his outside draw to take the lead before the field hit the turn and looked to have the race in the bag with a furlong to run.
But the Greyville poly is deceptive and horses that make an early dash are often swallowed inside the last 100m by the chasing pack.
Filippo
This was not the pack but Filippo, under an inspired ride by Gunter Wrogemann and Yogas Govender declaring blinkers for the first time, snaffled Billy Silver in the last jump.
Earlier, Bosch had teamed up with Marcus to land the odds on the wellbacked Laat Lammetjie
It was an afternoon for Ashburtonbased trainers with Shane Humby saddling Elsa Of Arendelle to victory off a smart barrier trial in the second, denying the Howells-trained favourite Holy Flame.
Piaget Prince
Lowan Denysschen sent out outsider Piaget Prince for the third and it was the Howells/Goosen show in the KwaZulu-Natal Stakes.
Michael Roberts rounded off the meeting with a double with Viento and Pamas doing it for the yard.