Be wily in the Syringa
ABILITY: WYLIE WENCH COMES OFF AN EMPHATIC GRADE 3 VICTORY Marygold could provide the biggest challenge.
Wylie Wench beat a talented field in the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m in February and looks set to notch up yet another feature race tomorrow when she lines up in the Listed Syringa Handicap for fillies and mares on the Turffontein Inside track.
In a race that is also over 1600m, the Mike and Adam Azzietrained filly has a lot going for her. Firstly, she loves this course, having a record of three wins in four starts.
She is nicely drawn at No 5, which is very important over this course and distance, and has an in-form jockey up in Craig Zackey.
Wylie Wench, who is a fivetime winner from 10 starts, has not raced since winning the Acacia Handicap but she does tend to race well when fresh. She beat Wisteria Walk in that event and she is as good, if not better than any of the runners who will line up in this event.
Marygold has been running against some of the best horses in the country, including the colts. However, she takes a drop in class tomorrow.
Her last race was in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track in which she finished unplaced behind star filly Summer Pudding. Her two runs prior to that, the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m and a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m, were against some of the best horses in the land, which includes Got The Greenlight who won two Grade 1 races after that.
This is only the second time Marygold will be running on the Inside track but one has to go back to her second start in October 2109 to find that race. After winning on debut she went on to finish a 1.05-length third to Querari Ferrari on this course.
They will meet again this time and it will be interesting to see if Marygold can reverse the form.
The only concern is that Alec Laird’s charge has developed the habit of losing valuable ground at the start and that could be the key to her performance in this event. Interestingly, she will be racing with a tongue tie for the first time.
She will have every assistance from the saddle as S’manga Khumalo, who is in top form currently, takes the ride.
Querari Ferrari looks ready to pick up a race since she has returned to trainer Erico Verdonese, so she also needs to be included.
Way Of The World could be a danger, despite a wide draw. Paul Peter’s charge loves this course with three of her six victories coming on the Inside track.
She has drawn wide at No 12 but does have the gate speed to overcome that hurdle. Champion jockey Warren Kennedy takes the ride.
In The Dance is from the powerful Sean Tarry yard and has loads of talent. She also has a top jockey aboard in the form of twotime champion and current log leader Lyle Hewitson.
The concern for Way Of The World and In The Dance is the distance.
Neither has yet managed to win over 1600m.