S’manga is good to Go
IMPROVEMENT: GEE FOR GO SHOULD BE SUITED TO EXTRA 200M IN FILLIES MILE
Due Diligence looks the main threat.
The meeting at Turffontein tomorrow will be run on two tracks. The first eight races will be staged on the tighter turning Inside track while the final event of the day, the Grade 3 Fillies Mile, will be run on the Standside track.
The feature race attracted a small, but quality field, which has been reduced with the withdrawal of Sentbydestiny. Trainer Candice Dawson has opted to run the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner in which she beat the colts, in next Saturday’s Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein.
The form line that encompasses the main contenders is that of the Grade 3 Starling Stakes over 1400m which was run on the Standside course on 31 October.
That race was won by Due Diligence from the Mike de Kock stable who beat Paul Matchett-trained Gee For Go by 0.75 lengths with Caralluma a further 0.50 lengths back in third.
All three are carded to go at it again but this race could be a lot closer as the winner has been penalised 1kg.
The runner who produced the fastest finish was Gee For Go and with the 1kg advantage and the extra 200m, she could turn this result around.
In his column prior to that race Muzi Yeni told readers that Gee For Go was very decent and they should include her in their bets, so the run was not coming out of turn. Yeni will be riding in Cape Town tomorrow but Matchett has engaged a top replacement in S’manga Khumalo.
Due Diligence and Caralluma produced the same time of 23 seconds for the final 400m and Sean Tarry’s
charge will be a lot fitter. However, based on her run in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m, won by Anything Goes, there has to be some doubt as to whether Caralluma sees out 1600m at this stage of her career.
As a result, Due Diligence could still keep her at bay.
There are two other interesting runners – Castle Durrow and Paton’s Tears – both trained by Lucky Houdalakis. On paper, neither has a chance but both could be better than their respective merit ratings.
Castle Durrow has won both of
her starts, flying up late last time to beat Way Of The World by a head over 1450m on the Inside track.
Based on the way in which she has run on in her two wins, this 1600m should be ideal for the daughter of Global View. Marco van Rensburg rode her last time and he is back aboard.
Paton’s Tears ran second on debut over 1200m and then followed up with a very impressive 4.25-length victory over 1400m at the Vaal. Gavin Lerena rides the daughter of Coup De Grace, who will be fitted with a tongue tie this time.