Snowdance chases G1 win
HANDICAP: SNAITH FILLY RATED TO COAST HOME
Peter expecting an improved run from Folk Dance.
There is little doubt the most popular banker on the Greyville card will be Snowdance in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m. She is quoted at 5-10 and on paper, and on the turf, looks very hard to beat.
She has raced seven times for four wins and three seconds. Her victories include the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes. She has been beaten in both of her races at Greyville, the first by a short-head to Fiorella in the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas and the second in the Grade 1 Gold Challenge where she went down 0.50 lengths to Undercover Agent.
In the Guineas she clearly was in need of a run while the Gold Challenge was her first run against the boys. This time she has everything in her favour. She is back against her own sex, is the best handicapped runner by between 4.5kg and 11.5kg, is drawn No 1, will be having her third run after the layoff and has Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the irons.
“She is the best she has been since arriving in KZN, and you can expect a big, big run on Saturday,” warned trainer Justin Snaith.
But while she looks hard to beat there are a number of trainers looking to lower her colours. Drawn alongside Snowdance at No 2 is Folk Dance who will be ridden by Piere Strydom. This horse does not have a good run with draws but when she does draw well she usually runs well.
“Ignore her last run,” trainer Paul Peter commented. “She didn’t travel well and that’s been well documented. She’ll do a lot better, plus she has a top jockey in Piere aboard.
“Is Snowdance beatable? Yes, but you have to respect her. She is a very, very good filly and she was beaten by two exceptional runners in her last two runs.”
Glen Kotzen saddles Elusive Heart and he is itching for a rematch. “She’s already beaten the favourite and my filly was squealing at work on Wednesday morning she is so fresh. She will be flying at them.”