Isingamoya raring to go
MARK Dixon hit form with a double at Scottsville on Sunday and his smart filly Isingamoya can get back to winning ways at the same venue today where she is joint top weight in a FM 92 Divided Handicap over 1 200m.
Three of her four wins have been over course and distance and she makes a return to female company again after taking on some smart males in a set weights event last time out.
Although she has won around the turn on the Greyville poly track she does appear better on the turf down the Scottsville straight where she recorded her last win beating the useful Deep Down Rebel giving the runner-up 8.5kg.
On the strength of that showing she was sent to the Highveld for a crack at the Gr2 Magnolia Handicap but after showing good pace she folded over the last 100m to finish fourth behind the highly-rated Green Pepper.
Similar tactics were tried last time out in a Pinnacle Stakes event at Greyville but she found the promising Amazon King too smart. She faces a fair field this afternoon and if looking past Isingamoya, one can make out a case for a number of runners.
Just Vogue and Miss Varlicious finished on top of each other when last they met and both have held form.
Miss Varlicious has been a victim of her own consistency and although down a further pound in the handicap she may still need more relief to make it back to the winner’s enclosure.
Free State is another course and distance specialist but has not been out since October last year and may be found in need of an outing. Having said that, she has yet to miss the frame.
Shezaleader was promoted ahead of Free State when last they met but the former has turned in five modest efforts since although her last showing was an improvement.
In the card opener, Trini’s Var Hyt was the subject of an inspired gamble on debut in one of the first 800m scurries in December, taking on the odds-on favourite Argo Magic.
Blinkers and Anton Marcus aboard were the obvious pointers and Kom Naidoo’s filly skated in by over three lengths. Argo Magic franked that form winning comfortably at Greyville next time out and seventh placed Royal Explorer also winning his next outing.
The trio meet again this afternoon and with fillies generally quicker to mature the result could be the same.
Techno Captain is often a difficult customer on the home gallops but Paul Gadsby does rate him and the gelding showed a glimpse of his ability when second behind the well fancied Roman Emperor at Greyville earlier this month. The penny appears to have dropped and if Sean Veale can keep the lid on his mount he can go one better in the second.
Courageous King went off the boil in the early part of this season and was then given a break by Mark Dixon. Two runs back saw a much improved effort and he should be able to carry that improvement through to win in a somewhat desperate field that makes up the first leg of the PA.
Fashion Quest, having her third run after a break and back over what appears to be her optimum trip, strikes as a likely winner of the fourth but the Duncan Howells pair of Roy’s Kaitrina and Hour Glass strike as dangers.