Free State has a point to prove
REE State has a point to prove when she lines up in the Association Of Clean Communities Graduation Plate over 1 200m at Greyville today, a race that has attracted some crack fillies.
Three weeks back Free State was deemed to be the main culprit in some late scrimmaging down the Scottsville straight and demoted in the boardroom where Shezaleader was the beneficiary but A Womans Way the chief sufferer, squeezed out of the back door and eventually finishing fifth.
Duncan Howells said last week that he was reluctant to run A Womans Way on the poly but when another meeting was added to the Scottsville programme with a suitable race, he gained permission to scratch for today leaving accomplished stable companion Dawn Calling representing the yard.
Dawn Calling has not been out of the money in seven starts, finishing runner-up in both the Gr2 Golden Slipper and the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes at the end of last season.
That form has held up well but this will be Dawn Calling’s first outing since the end of July.
The daughter of Trippi is obviously top class but the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas will be on the agenda and 1 200m on the quick poly surface does already look to be on the short side.
Her proven class could see her through but she may be hard pressed to hold a fit and distance suited Free State.
Wendy Whitehead’s runner is lightly raced and was returning from a three-month break when demoted at Scottsville.
That she was running around in the finish could be attributed to her being leg-weary over the final 50m but it was still a cracking run.
The second-run-after-a-layoff theorists will be having a field day with this one.
A hard run back may well take the edge off the filly but she has earned a cheque at every start which is in her favour and she is also proven on the poly.
Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Impala Lily is also a winner on the poly but like Dawn Calling is returning from a break and does appear to be looking for further at this stage of her career. She has not been out since the first week in July and the fitter Free State could also have here measure.
Cosmic Burst
Cosmic Burst would appear to be the only other runner with winning credentials but does look outclassed.
The race would appear to rest between Free State and Dawn Calling but racing fitness and a suitable distance could give Free State the edge.
Fashion Quest enjoyed the step up in trip when runner-up at her last start over course and distance and is a possible banker in the opening leg of the PA.
The first leg of the Pick 6 looks more tricky. Distant Place caught the eye behind the promising Scent Of The Tiger on debut and is sure to improve while Brave Knight, back from a wind op, made major improvement last time out.
Zloty Potok and Ice Emperor look the pick of the balance.
The form behind Accidental Tourist is proving to be fairly solid so Go With The Flo is expected to come on nicely from her debut when three lengths back to Accidental Tourist.
But if anything, this is an even more open race and the best advice is to fill up in the exotics as far as finances allow bringing all of Even Tempo, Swiss Note, Jollerie and At Variance into the equation.
The same goes for the sixth where the entire field is not without a squeak. Roman Carnival could cut expenses in the seventh as he was a touch unlucky last time out but the lightly raced Sea Urchin steps out over a more suitable trip and is having his third run after a break and is from an in form yard.
Kannemeyer could round off the meeting with Tanjiro in the eighth who takes a major drop in class after finishing a close-up third in a competitive handicap last time out.