Gina just needs a little luck

VAUGHAN Marshall was very happy with Tribal Dance and Dubai Gina ahead of their engagements in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate over 1 600m and the Grade 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1 800m respectively.

“They have both had very, very good preps, I’m very happy with them,” said Marshall.

Tribal Dance, a classy four-year-old Tiger Dance colt, has drawn well in eleven. His two comeback runs yielded a fine win over 1 800m and a 3,75 length fifth with a big weight in the Grade 3 Cape Summer Stayer’s Handicap. Marshall said, “It’s on the sharp side for him and this will be a preparation outing for the Met.”

Dubai Gina, whom Marshall rates as one of the best fillies in the land, is drawn in pole in the Paddock Stakes. He said, “She has to have a big chance, especially on those last two runs. She was very unlucky last time (when a 0,6 lengths third to Razzle Dazzle Rose in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over the Paddock Stakes course and distance.)”

Dubai Gina has seldom had luck on her side. She draw very wide and was carried in when running on for a 5,25 length third to Viva Maria in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 at Greyville last season and she has often had to carry big weights. She is having her third run after a rest and is quoted at 12-1 by the bookmakers. Both horses will be ridden by Marshall’s in form stable jockey MJ Byleveld.

Viva Maria

Meanwhile, the Mike de Kock-trained Grade 1 Woolavington winner Viva Maria arrived in Cape Town yesterday morning ahead of her attempt at the Paddock Stakes over 1 800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Nathan Kotzen, De Kock’s Summerveld assistant, is in Cape Town with her and said that the out and out galloper had appeared to travel well. He added that running from the front was the style she enjoyed, so she was likely to race that way on Saturday. This should ensure a good gallop for a race that was run at a farcically slow pace last year.

The Jet Master filly had a holiday on the farm after her Woolavington win. She has had two comeback runs and Kotzen said, “She is now spot on.”