Confidence in Fort Ember
THREE horses stand out in this Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) over 1 600m at Turffontein – top-rated Safe Harbour, Fort Ember and Cape raider Star Express.
Ultra-classy Safe Harbour is one of five runners from the Sean Tarry stable and her trainer admits she must be the stable elect. The three-year-old was beaten only a neck by Orchid Island in the SA Fillies Classic over 1 800m. She is drawn at No 7 in the 16horse field and will carry 2.5kg less than her two main rivals.
Fort Ember is a five-time winner who finished fifth behind Legal Eagle in the recent Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1 600m.
Trainer Paul Peter believes the horse to beat in the race is Safe Harbour, but added: “Fort Ember is exceptionally well, has a great draw (No 1) and a top jockey (Anton Marcus). She’ll run an excellent race. I’m quietly confident.”
Cape-based Justin Snaith, who has a string of horses at Summerveld in KwaZulu-Natal until the end of winter, intends to bring Majorca Stakes runner-up Star Express to the Highveld on Friday to take part in the weight-for-age race, but said: “I’ll see how the week goes – I won’t bring her unless she’s got a chance. I liked the look of the race meeting and will always do my best to play a part when it counts. “Star Express is a lovely filly who gets every bit of 1 600m easily and she’s doing very well at home. I’m not happy with her wide draw – it’s a long way to come for that draw – but Anthony Delpech will give her a bit of a chance in the race so we still have a filly afterwards.”
Juxtapose
Lightly raced Juxtapose, last year’s SA Fillies Classic and SA Oaks winner who made a promising comeback from a rest last time out, is the next highest-rated runner in the field. Her trainer Stanley Ferreira cautioned: “This is on the sharp side for her and she’s got entries in the Champions Challenge, Gerald Rosenberg and Gold Bowl – I think she’ll stay every metre of that 3 200m because she’s a proper galloping Vodacom Durban July.
“She’s a tiny filly but has a huge heart. She’s a little darling!”
Three horses are rated 101, Intergalactic and Trophy Wife.
Trainer Gavin van Zyl said he is “upbeat that Bella Sonata will run a good race even though she is drawn wide. Her form has turned around in her two runs since she had a wind op, she’s just got better and better, and I expect her to be in the first three.”
Tarry trains both Intergalactic and Trophy Wife. “Intergalactic had a good prep and has been competitive in this type of company, so must have a chance. (Stablemate) Tahini did beat Intergalactic last time but was the fitter horse and there is a turnaround at the weights.”
He said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Trophy Wife in the mix. “She had a bit of a rushed prep but her comeback from a rest (when second to stable companion Carry On Alice over an inadequate 1 100m recently) was very good.”
His other runner is Heaps Of Fun. “She’s had a good preparation but her form’s not been there in her last few runs. She will, however, bounce back soon and I don’t think she’s out of it.”
Polyphonic
Polyphonic came back to best to win the Jacaranda Handicap from a wide draw recently and Alec Laird has booked jockey Piere Strydom for the filly again.
Laird was unavailable for comment, but Strydom said he was hoping for “luck from a bad draw against horses who are better weighted under the conditions”.
The Mike de Kock stable will field three horses – Nother Russia, Al Hawraa and The Centenary and assistant trainer Mathew de Kock said probably be close between the first two.
“The Centenary is coming off a long layoff and, although she enjoys running fresh, she’ll probably be better over 2 000m. Nother Russia is consistent and always gives her best.
“She has a good draw, which is always a big help. Al Hawraa is best at 1 600m – the 1 800m of the SA Fillies Classic was a touch too far. She hit the front with 400m to go and got run out of it late. But she has got a horrible draw so will need a lot of luck.”
Johan Janse van Vuuren’s grey filly Negroamaro will always have her supporters, even though she is a chronic bleeder.
He would only say, “She’s very well but is in a very strong race.”
Roy Magner, asked about Anna Pavlova, said yesterday: “She worked hard this morning and did nicely. She’s in a good place and, although she is not well drawn, I’m expecting a good run.”
Kilauea is another runner with a wide draw. She had an interrupted preparation, but David Nieuwenhuizen said: “She’s got a lot of guts and must have a chance, although it’s a strong field.”
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