Best in land entered for the Garden Province

- It could be one of the highlights of the day as a racing spectacle on Vodacom Durban July Day when the country’s top fillies fight it out for honours in the R1-million Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.

The race is one of nine features at the meeting and shares Grade 1 status with the Durban July.

Picture superstars Bela-Bela and Just Sensual in a home straight tussle with the likes of Star Express, Polyphonic, Gimme Six, Final Judgement and Nightingale and shivers go down your spine.

They have all been nominated for this top weight-for-age race for fillies and mares over 1600m.

This is the race where runners from all racing jurisdictions come together to establish who’s who in the pecking order among the female horses.

Justin Snaith commented after Bela-Bela’s third place in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge: “It’s a pity we will have to meet Just Sensual.”

The grey filly’s participation in the Vodacom Durban July still up in the air.

Dynasty filly Just Sensual beat Nightingale home in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes, following up on her brilliant second to the country’s now-retired queen of speed Carry On Alice.

Star Express, also from the Snaith stable, ran fourth behind Just Sensual in the Tibouchina Stakes.

Earlier in the year Star Express finished 0.50 lengths behind Nightingale in the prestigious Grade 1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth.

Gimme Six, another Snaithtrained horse, was just touched off in a controversial finish by Lady Of The House in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

The mouth waters at the possibility of all standing their ground at the final acceptance stage on 20 June.

Such a move would result in an absolute treat for the expected 50,000 racegoers at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July Day and, in turn, to a spectacular racing experience.