Classy lineup for Woolavington

PUBLISHED: 31 May 2017

Gimme Six

Gimme Six has been one of the stars of the SA Champions Season so far and is one of many potential winners of Saturday’s Woolavington 2000 at Greyville, which is the most wide open Gr 1 race seen this season.

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gimme Six’s pedigree points to a mile being a trip she would be more comfortable over. However, she was not stopping at the line when wining the Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas cosily and from a pole position draw her exceptional turn of foot can be used to the maximum by Anthony Delpech.

The long striding Final Judgement turned for home handy in the Daisy Fillies Guineas and stayed on resolutely. She should appreciate the step up in trip. She now has an even better draw and Richard Fourie stays aboard.

Safe Harbour is also a long strider and has finished second in all of the Cape Fillies Guineas, the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes and the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic. The latter races were both over 1800m and she was unable to find the necessary extra to secure the wins. However, she has another good draw and should have improved and strengthened, so should be involved in the finish considering Greyville is an easier track in terms of stamina than Turffontein Standside.

Orchid Island won the SA Fillies Classic full of running and will love this distance. From a good draw she should go close.

Gimme Six (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gimme Six (Nkosi Hlophe)

Smiling Blue Eyes, drawn five, was not herself when disappointing in the SA Fillies Classic. She also finished unplaced in the SA Oaks. Before those two runs she had impressed when winning both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Fillies Mile comfortably. She should stay this trip being a full brother to 2400m winner Sage Throne. However, Sage Throne was better known for never living up to his considerable potential. Nevertheless, Sean Tarry’s regular first call jockey S’Manga Khumalo is aboard Smiling Blue Eyes, while Muzi Yeni replaces him on Safe Harbour.

Bi Pot is another long striding sort, who was overtaken late by Orchid Island when finishing a 0,45 length third in the SA Fillies Classic, 0,2 lengths behind Safe Harbour. She then finished a fair 3,35 length fourth in the SA Oaks over 2450m, beating Orchid Island by 1,25 lengths. She was drawn better than both Orchid Island and Safe Harbour in the Fillies Classic and is now drawn slightly worse, but she is a scopey sort who should relish this trip.

Epona came from a long way back to win the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over this trip in early January at Kenilworth, beating Louisiana by two lengths, and the latter went on to win the Listed Scarlet Lady over 1800m at Greyville in April. Epona won her KZN debut over this trip on the poly in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup, where she also ran on strongly. Anton Marcus stays aboard her at the expense of Wind Chill and Lady Of The House.

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

Wind Chill was an impressive winner of the SA Oaks and before that only just failed to win the Listed Oaks Trial when dropped out from a wide draw and making up a lot of ground in the straight. She should be a big runner.

Oriental Oak is progressive and ran on strongly from the back for a 0,75 length fifth in the SA Fillies Classic before finishing a 2,5 length second in the SA Oaks.

Lady Of The House is a well-bred, talented sort who caught the eye when fifth in the Cape Fillies Guineas. She has 4,7 lengths to make up on Gimme Six from the Daisy Fillies Guineas. She stayed on well over 1800m on the poly last time and should get this trip.

Dress For Success is a rangy type who steps up in class and will find this tough.

Al Danza stayed on quite well for a 3,75 length fourth in the Daisy Fillies Guineas, but there is some stamina doubt here.

The High Life was disappointing last in the Daisy Fillies Guineas, but at her best has a good turn of foot and will relish this trip.

Party Crasher was 1,25 lengths behind Epona in the East Coast Cup but is now 4,5kg worse off and has a tough draw.

Onesie was 2,25 lengths back in the East Coast Cup and is also 4,5kg worse off with Epona and widely drawn.

By David Thiselton