Final Judgement to deliver

PUBLISHED: 04 May 2017

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

Judpot filly Final Judgement could land her second Grade 2 at Greyville on Sunday in the Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas from a good draw of six.

The Gr 2 Golden Slipper winner showed a fine turn of foot from a handy position to hit the front last time out in the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m. She finished a 0,75 length second but will now be 2kg better off with the winner Gimme Six. The one concern is the 1600m trip and it all depends on how well she settles as she tugged at the bit early on when finishing a 1,95 length fourth in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gimme Six was quite forward when running on strongly in the Umzimkhulu after being dropped out early from a wide draw. She has another tricky draw, but being by Gimmethegreenlight should still be improving.

Philanthropist filly Sail has always struck as one who could get better as she matured, so was a touch disappointing when once again finding two too good for her in the Umzimkhulu. However, she will now be 2kg better off with Gimme Six for a 1,25 length beating and she does have another good draw of two.

Her stablemate The High Life gave the winner 4kg in the Umzimkhulu and finished fastest of all for a 3,75 length sixth. She will relish the step up in trip, although she would ideally prefer even further and has another wide draw. Dennis Drier’s stable jockey Sean Veale sticks with Sail and Ian Sturgeon retains the ride on The High Life.

Trippi filly Dawn Calling has always been highly regarded and should have come on plenty from her 2,75 length fourth in the Umzimkhulu. She showed she needed that run by being a little bit keen early after being dropped out from a wide draw. Unfortunately, she has drawn wide again and she will also be 2kg worse off with Final Judgement and Sail and 4kg worse off with The High Life.

Her stablemate, the Var filly A Women’s Way, was having her first run beyond 1200m in the Umzimkhulu and after being dropped out to last from the widest draw of all she ran on well for a 3,5 length fifth, giving the winner 2kg. She relaxed well in the running, suggesting she will get the mile, and Piere Strydom now rides from pole position.

Sail (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sail (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lady Of The House ran on well for fifth in the Cape Fillies Guineas, beaten a short-head by Sail, but then over raced last time out in the Majorca Stakes with blinkers on. The blinkers are duly off, so she should be running on well again and being by Dynasty should be improving all the time.

Ektifaa is the highest merit rated horse in the field on 103, but there is a stamina doubt. She went up handy from a wide draw in the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and was only found out in the final 100-150m, so she can’t be written off over this easier 1600m.

Captain Al filly Al Danza improved when stepped up to 1450m in a Graduation Plate last time and led from start to finish to beat Visuality. She has a fair draw but this is a big step up in class.

Visuality has been disappointing this season and would be a surprise winner.

Philae is the lowest merit rated contender. However, she moved up well in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m last time out before becoming a bit cramped, so was far from disgraced in finishing a 5,85 length ninth. She should be improving all the time being by Silvano and, over what should be an ideal trip, has a plum draw.

By David Thiselton