Rose could keep on blooming

Ken Nicol

Winning four races in a row is rare, but dropping back to her favourite 1000m The Boston Rose has a big chance of pulling off the feat in race 7 at Kenilworth tomorrow.

This late-developing Silvano filly took seven starts to win, but has hardly looked back since.

A good third in her post-maiden appearance was followed by a hat-trick of wins, the first two being particularly impressive over this course and distance.

Indeed last time over 1250m at Durbanville it took some Richard Fourie magic to keep her rolling over the final stages.

By contrast her two victories over the minimum trip were both fluent, and the form has worked out, suggesting she is still a little ahead of the handicapper.

Bottom weight Marion Belle clearly has her problems, but rates a serious danger if fit and well after almost six months off. Straat-Kind and It Is What It Is are other obvious threats.

Best bet on the card though is another off the Snaith-Fourie conveyor belt, Magnificent Seven in Race 4. This Horse Chestnut gelding looks a smart stayer in the making, and quickened impressively last time.

He faces another small field of well exposed handicappers, and was generously only raised four points by the handicappers for that facile latest victory. Expect another easy win, and provides a rock solid banker in the first leg of the Pick Six.

Under ‘normal’ circumstances Joey Ramsden’s Grade 3 placed, but only one-time winning filly Made In Hollywood would rate the standout bet. She carries a mere 50kg in Race 5, the Conditions Plate for fillies over 1200m.

However the stable have had very few recent runners due to a problem with adverse reactions to vaccines, so a measure of caution is advised. If fit and firing she should come home lonely though.

Nordic Breeze should be the one to pick up the pieces if she does fluff her lines.

A runner sure to attract plenty of attention, and probably go off favourite, is Brett Crawford’s filly Shamrock Wind in Race 6, who looked a star in the making when winning her maiden by over 11 lengths in June.

Given a rating of 91, she now faces some hard-knocking male handicappers in what is far from the easiest post maiden assignment.

Indeed the Andre Nel-trained gelding Dalibhunga would be a narrow first choice here. He clearly loves soft going, as well as this course and distance.