Lady In Black heads WC Fillies entries
BEST FORM: UNBEATEN MAGICAL WONDERLAND HAS ATTRACTED A LOT OF ATTENTION Dutch Philip could be tested over 1400m in Grade 3 Cape Classic.
Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes winner Lady In Black is among the 30 entries for the R400,000 Western Cape Fillies Championship when Cape Town racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday, 28 October. The Grade 2 for three-year-old fillies over 1400m, had a star-studded reputation when run under the Choice Carriers and Odessa names and four of the last seven winners have gone on to take the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Also run on the day is the Grade 3 Cape Classic, also over 1400m.
Joining Lady In Black is Desert Rhythm who finished fourth in that Greyville race after starting joint favourite and winning the Grade 2 Golden Slipper on July Day. However, both are drawn wide, in contrast to what at this stage looks the main home hope, Magical Wonderland.
The Candice Bass-Robinsontrained daughter of What A Winter is unbeaten in four starts and was immensely impressive when coming from second last to give weight all round on her reappearance in a progress plate at Durbanville.
Others of note include the Glen Kotzen-trained Debutante winner Princess Peach (but badly drawn) and Rose In Bloom who won the Listed Irridescence Stakes.
There is a supplementary entry stage on Wednesday with declarations the following day.
There are 34 entries for the 1400m Grade 3 Cape Classic and Joey Ramsden, who has won three of the last four runnings, has six in it including Ancestry who was second in both the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe and the Grade 1 Premiers Champion.
Sean Tarry, who has yet to win the Cape Classic, has six entries including Captain And Master who was third in the Golden Horseshoe but over-raced and suffered interference when starting favourite for the Premiers Champion. He is well drawn whereas Eyes Wide Open, winner of the Premiers Champion, has a bad draw. The colt was only seventh on his reappearance in a Progress Plate at Durbanville last Saturday but Glen Kotzen expressed himself satisfied, saying: “He hadn’t seen grass this season and he had a nice gallop as a prep for the Cape Classic.”
Dutch Philip, drawn mid-division, is set to shoulder top weight. He won four out of five at two and really caught the eye when finishing fast on his return at Durbanville.
The supplementary entry and declaration stages are the same as for the fillies’ race.