Lady’s Slipper might be the right fit for Queen Forever at Fairview

Queen Forever might offer fair value in the R150,000 Lady’s Slipper Stakes (Listed) over 1400m at Fairview today.

Jockey bookings suggest her stable companion Nicole is the stable elect. Greg Cheyne is aboard Nicole, while Charles Ndlovu will be on Queen Forever. However, Greeff has given 33-year-old Ndlovu 113 of his 187 career wins to date, so there is a measure of loyalty between trainer and jockey.

Queen Forever started 41-10 in her debut on 7 April and ran on after a slow start to beat Backslash by 1.25 lengths over 1200m on the Fairview turf track.

A number of these horses were behind her that day, with Leia Organa (won a Maiden Plate next time) beaten 1.50 lengths into third, Banjo Buzz (won two starts later) another 0.50 lengths back in fourth and Precious Pansy the same distance behind in fifth.

The distance is a question mark for Leia Organa but many experts will fancy the chances of Precious Pansy and Banjo Buzz in this race, so Queen Forever must be a factor.

What could make her easier to back than others is that Queen Forever flopped badly over 1400m in her only other start, when drifting from 18-10 to 3-1. However, it was surely not the distance that felled her that day - her breeding suggests she will relish the distance. It might have been a wide draw, though, and this time she has pulled No 3 stall.

There was only a short head between Yvette Bremner-trained Banjo Buzz and Gavin Smith’s charge Precious Pansy in a 1400m race at Fairview last month. Banjo Buzz will carry 3kg more in this race and could well find Precious Pansy a tougher nut to crack.

Widow’s Lamp is just 1.25 lengths inferior to Precious Pansy on available evidence but is probably still on the upgrade and could make her presence felt, while maiden Azusa was third in that race won by Banjo Buzz, racing green from a wide draw. She is much better drawn this time.

Nicole looks held by Leia Organa, Singing In Seattle tries further and was beaten two lengths by Precious Pansy over 1200m in her penultimate start, while Perfect Dawn races at Fairview for the first time.

The South African handicappers do not publish merit ratings for two-year-olds but keep a running tally behind the scenes of how good they believe the horses of that age group are. Here’s what they think: 8 Precious Pansy 11 Widow’s Lamp 10 Singing In Seattle 9 Queen Forever 5 Leia Organa 2 Banjo Buzz 6 Nicole 1 Azusa 3 Close To My Heart 4 Gitango Tonight 7 Perfect Dawn 87 86 84 83 80 79 75 74 71 71 70