TAYBA LOOKS THE PART ON SAND
First race on the Vaal sand
CHAMPION trainer Mike de Kock has thrown punt - ers a life-line on a tricky card at the Vaal sand track today when he sends out the filly Tayba in Race 4, a R100 000 Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m.
This two-time winner has missed the frame three times only in nine starts and that was in feature events. She started her career with an impressive win over 1000m at Scottsville and followed up with a narrow defeat over 1400m at the same venue. The three-year-old was again sent off a favourite in her next two outings at Turffontein where she was narrowly beaten over 1200m and then a weak fourth over 1000m. She was never a factor in her next two starts in feature events but bounced back to form in her next race when a fast-finishing second over 1200m at the Vaal turf course.
Over-matched in her next and penultimate run in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein, Tayba never got a blow in and finished well down the field. However, after a three- month rest and teamed up with apprentice Julius Mariba for the first time, the filly ran out a decisive two-length winner over today’s distance at the Vaal turf course. Mariba gets the ride again and with his 1.5kg claim the filly will take some beating as she will have only 48.5kg to shoulder.
Tayba’s main rival could be three-time winner All In The Mind from Stuart Pettigrew’s stable with 4kg claiming apprentice Franklin Maleking in the saddle. This speedy daughter of Var romped home by 2.50 lengths four runs back over 1450m at Turffontein and was placed in her three subsequent runs over the same course and distance. Maleking was aboard three runs back when fourth and the filly must rate a big danger today with only 48kg on her back.
A vastly improved run could come from Corne Spies-trained Rebel Queen as there were valid excuses given for her disappointing performance in her last two outings. The three- year-old finished lame in the Umzimkhulu Stakes (Grade 3) at Scottsville and there was a report of coughing in her next and last run in the Queen of the Sand (Listed) at today’s venue.
The filly had just four runs earlier stormed home a five-length winner of the Nkosazana Stakes (Listed) over 1450m at this course, and two runs before that she had completed a splendid 1200m hat-trick at the Vaal. Fitted with blinkers for a change, she steps out after a near three-month break and, if fully recovered from her setbacks, should be involved in the finish.
Another three-yearold that could make her presence felt is Roy Magner-trained two-time winner Margot On Stage with Karl Zechner in the saddle again. This filly was a very easy winner in a big maiden field at Turffontein and followed up with a good second in the 1160m Swallow Stakes (Listed) and third in the 1450m Three Troikas Stakes (Grade 3) at the same venue.