Fiorella warming up for summer
DUNCAN Howells is well acquainted with second box this season. 23 times the Ashburton-based trainer has visited but will be looking to swop to the winner’s box at Greyville today where he has a host of strong contenders.
One of those is Fiorella, last season’s Daisy Fillies Guineas winner.
She warms up for a tilt at the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Stakes on Summer Cup day at the end of November when she contests the Gold Circle Podcast Pinnacle Stakes.
Fiorella started Champions Season a little under the radar in spite of finishing fourth behind Takingthepiece in the SA Fillies Classic but ran a superb race to beat hot favourite Snowdance in the Fillies Guineas at Greyville.
To prove that the win was no flash in the pan, she gave Sun Met winner and Equus Horse of the Year Oh Susanna a fright when only capitulating in the final strides in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000.
Fiorella made her seasonal debut in a top division sprint at Scottsville last month, turning in another cracking effort behind accomplished sprinter Wynkelder.
Today’s 1400m trip will be much more to her liking and even though she gives lumps of weight to the opposition she should still prove difficult to beat.
Mela Stregata is responsible for two of the Howells 23 second placings but can put that right in the opening leg of the Pick 6.
Touched off on debut, she was widely expected to make amends next time out.
However, Cape Bluebell was supported in the market as if the result was already known, and so it proved, as she out-pointed the favourite with the balance of the field strung out behind.
Given Mela Stregata’s pedigree, today’s 1800m should be much more to her liking but she is up against a few others who will also enjoy the extra including Sweet Preserve who has shown promise, as have Green Caviar, Noble Approach and Oratorina.
Jet Stream is another Howells runner with claims to the winner’s enclosure after finishing runner-up at his last outing.
He takes on a small field in the fourth where he should enjoy the extra and go one better.
Alyson Wright holds a strong hand in the Racing.It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes, her trio of runners include Flichity By Farr, second in the Gold Vase behind It’s My Turn, Cat’s Legacy who tries for a third win on the bounce and the lightly weighted Root Beer.
Best of the three could be the filly Flichity By Farr. She has not been out since early July when second behind Equus Stayer of the Year It’s My Turn in the Gold Vase and she boasted solid staying form prior to that.
If anything, she takes a drop in class here and with master craftsman Anton Marcus booked for the ride off a handy galloping weight she should at least be competitive.
Top weight Crowd Pleaser is seldom far off and has done well at Greyville. However, he has to concede 5.5kg to the filly which may be beyond him.
Cat’s Legacy has finally found his best trip and landed two on the bounce.
However, Crime Victim was a winner two jumps after the line when last they met.
They are both at the bottom of the handicap which will make them dangerous as they stay the trip well but Crime Victim could prove to be the better this time around.
The seventh is a tricky handicap but Sarabi has been consistent and goes well over course and distance.
She comes from a very much in form Paul Gadsby yard and could prove the pick.
Of the balance, Tuulikki has been holding form and does best on the turf while Fancifilly is lightly raced and if ridden more patiently than when tearing off to the front last time out will be a threat.
This is her third run after a break and she should strip close to her peak.
The last race on the day is another wideopen handicap but Real Vision has shown up nicely since returning from a long break.
He takes a major drop in class here and has also come down in the ratings. An outside threat could come in the form of Mutawaary.
Dennis Bosch has been trying him over further but her showed in his barrier trial behind the speedy but now retired Doing It For Dan that he has enough speed to trouble this field.