Classy Brave Mary can make a winning start for new owner
With a R4-million Pick 6 pool in the offing and a minefield topliner at the Vaal’s biggest raceday tomorrow, when the WSB Grand Heritage is run, punters will be seeking at least one banker for the meeting. Most will side with Brave Mary in Race 6.
This Paul Matchett-trained three-year-old filly runs in the R135,000 Support Your Local Rotary Club Sophomore 1000 and rates the one to beat.
She was a revelation as a twoyear-old last season, starting relatively unfancied in her first three starts and running accordingly.
She obviously turned a corner then because on 9 May she was sent to the Vaal and teamed up with Gunter Wrogemann for the first time. She started 26-10 favourite and it was no race after she took the lead more than 400m from the line. Brave Mary cruised clear and won at a common canter, beating Virga by 6.50 lengths. The runner-up went on to win next time out and was not beaten far in a subsequent Grade 3 at Greyville.
There was even better to come, though. Matchett then sent Brave Mary to Scottsville later that month and she defied 30-1 odds to trounce Fillies Nursery winner Green Plains by 1.75 lengths.
A relatively cheap purchase as a yearling, she was then snapped up by Team Valor’s Barry Irwin and given time to grow. So this will be her first start as a three-year-old.
Matchett will be wanting her to impress her new owner so, even though Brave Mary is likely to have some big dates pencilled in, she will not be much shy of peak fitness and could oblige Pick 6 players. She certainly seems to have the class.
Quartet and Trifecta players might look to banker Brave Mary for first with Barrack Street, Pera Palace and Daring Diva permed for minor money.
The WSB Heritage Consolation over 1475m is the second-richest race and looks nearly as open as the Grand Heritage with bookmakers offering 6-1 and better the field.
There are a number of horses who could give their supporters a good run for their money, but Bold Coast could be the right one to float in Quartets and Trifectas.
Mike de Kock-trained Alfolk is a three-year-old taking on some older rivals in the R150,000 IFM 102.2 Heritage 1200. He has a light weight and could be too fleet of foot.
He is a two-time winner from five starts and his last two runs yielded a second to So Var and a win over Snow Boarding. Both races have been franked and he should return to action following a short layoff in go0d shape. KwaZulu-Natal-based raider Amazon King could be second best.
The WSB 24/7 Customer Support Heritage 1200 Fillies and Mares is the other feature race. Simply Royal is favourite, but might find the trip on the sharp side and Twelve Oaks could be the one to side with.