Cape Trainer Neil Bruss has brought his promising fillies Flying Ice and Zante back to Summerveld for further tilts at South African Champions Season feature races.

Neil Bruss (Nkosi Hlophe)

The three-year-old Go Deputy filly Flying Ice won the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m at Greyville last season before finishing a 0,75 length fourth in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m. She was a touch unlucky last time out in first time blinkers when a 1,25 length runner up in the Gr 3 Prix Du Cap over 1400m at Kenilworth.

She had to be continually switched out and only saw daylight 200m out. She then flew home, but it was too late to catch the winner, the decent four-year-old Cuvee Brut. Bruss had been confident of winning the Prix du Cap, despite her 33/1 odds, as she had recovered from the illness which had affected her previous run. Cuvee Brut raced off a 103 merit rating that day and the 98 merit-rated Flying Ice faced her on weight for age terms, so it was a fine performance by the latter considering her bad luck in running. The progeny of Go Deputy show continual improvement with age and she has been doing well since arriving at Summerveld, so is one to follow.

Four-year-old Zante is another filly who should be improving being by the top class sire Ideal World. She ran a 3,25 length fourth to Smart Call in last year’s Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and, of course, that form now looks outstanding. Bruss was forced to race Zante mainly against males in the Cape Summer, as there were no suitable races for her, and she has consequently dropped to an attractive 89 merit rating. Bruss said there would be many opportunities for this staying type during the SA Champions Season and she starts her campaign on Sunday in a 1600m Conditions Plate at Scottsville. She is affective over a mile, despite preferring further.

Bruss has also brought another decent four-year-old staying type in the Go Deputy filly Deputy Ryder. She won three races in KZN last year for the Alyson Wright yard, including the Listed Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m at Greyville. She should love being back at Summerveld and is likely to have as many opportunities as the similar type, Zante. She only found the frame once in four starts during the Cape Summer, but was up against some good types, and the handicapper has consequently only dropped her one point to a 94 merit rating.

By David Thiselton