The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Take Tarifa to triumph
Johnston’s charge should have enough to complete hat-trick at Nottingham
The hat-trick-seeking LA CASA
TARIFA can maintain his breathless spring onslaught by winning the 32Red. com EBF Stallions Breeding Winners Fillies’ Handicap at Nottingham.
Mark Johnston’s charge won just one of her 10 races last season, despite being kept busy by the Middleham trainer.
However, she looks a different proposition this season, winning at Chelmsford and Ripon with the minimum of fuss.
Having started the campaign rated 76 she is already up to 83 but her onelength victory last time out does not tell the whole story and she can go in again. Sir Michael Stoute’s MIDNIGHT
VIXEN looks sure to be suited by the step up to 10 furlongs in the 32Red.com Fillies’ Handicap.
She showed up well in three maidens last season without looking a worldbeater but Stoute will have been waiting for the day she could go handicapping.
Having not raced over further than seven-and-a-half furlongs, the fact there is plenty of stamina on the dam side of her pedigree suggests she should improve a good deal for the extra distance. Johnston sends the juvenile STARLIGHT MYSTERY down to Brighton for just her second run in the toteplacepot At Totesport.com Novice Auction Stakes.
While her pedigree suggests she will be seen to better effect over further later in the season, she actually showed plenty of pace on her debut at Beverley.
She can be expected to have come on a good deal for that experience.
SELECTIONS
BRIGHTON: 2.00 Starlight Mystery, 2.30 Raffle King, 3.00 Bahamian Sunrise, 3.35 Lorelina, 4.10 Ettie Hart, 4.40 Sarangoo, 5.10 Sir Jack.
NOTTINGHAM: 2.10 Queen Penn, 2.40 Lord Commander, 3.10 Manton Grange, 3.45 LA CASA TARIFA (NAP), 4.20 Midnight Vixen, 4.50 On Fire, 5.25 Carlton Frankie.
DOUBLE: La Casa Tarifa and Midnight Vixen.