The Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes is rightfully the most prestigious of the supporting features on Vodacom Durban July card and this year’s renewal is one of the classiest seen in recent times.
Just Sensual (Liesl King)
The champion grey filly Bela-Bela proved in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge that a mile is her best trip. She had to be steadied at the back of the field for a stride or two in that race when encountering some interference, yet still managed to run on strongly from right at the back for an excellent third. She looks the one to beat from a plum draw of five.
Three-year-old Just Sensual has enjoyed an outstanding season, winning the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, finishing second in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and winning both the Grade 2 Tibouchina and Grade 3 Prix du Cap. Her form suggests she is at her best over 1400m, but Anton Marcus said after her Tibouchina win he had actually been disappointed as he had expected her to win easier, while trainer Joey Ramsden reckoned in the winning interview her best trip was a mile. She has a fair draw of seven.
Bela-Bela’s three-year-old Justin Snaith-trained stablemate Gimme Six won the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas in fine style and was arguably unlucky to have not won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000. She has drawn in pole position so her relaxed style plus exceptional turn of foot should carry her close.
Another big runner from the Snaith yard will be the highly regarded Star Express, who finished a narrow second in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m to the July entry Nightingale. She then ran just 1,3 lengths behind Just Sensual in the Tibouchina over too sharp a trip. She will be 1,5kg worse off with Just Sensual in the Garden Province, but will relish the step up in trip and will be spot on as the Tibouchina was chiefly seen as a preparation outing. On the downside, she has a tough draw of 13.
Justin Snaith & Bela-Bela (Tracy Robertson)
Fort Ember was impressive when winning the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over course and distance in January and her Tibouchina run can probably have a line drawn through it as she was hampered when trying to weave her way through traffic. She is classy and could be the dark horse, although she has a tricky draw of ten.
Bella Sonata has gone close to Nother Russia in her last two starts over this trip, including in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes, and the latter then proved how good she was by running a 0,2 length third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge behind Deo Juvente and Legal Eagle. Bella Sonata has a fine turn of foot so should love this course and distance.
Polyphonic is held on Empress Club form with Bella Sonata, but she subsequently won a Grade 2 over 2000m well. Piere Strydom sticks with her and she could be upset material as a highly regarded, but problematic sort who seems to have come to hand.
Chevauchee has always been highly regarded too and can’t be ignored, as this might well be her best trip. She comes from the unstoppable yard of Brett Crawford.
Her stablemate Louisiana impressed recently over course and distance is another outsider to consider. Bi-Pot and Oriental Oak have both caught the eye as long-striding, classy sorts during the Triple Tiara races in Jo’burg. She’s A Giver has class but would prefer a touch shorter, while reserve runner Captain Gambler would prefer further. Frosty Friday is a classy sort who ran well in the Tibouchina in her second run after a break of over a year. Kilauea looks held by Bella Sonata but will make her presence felt. This will be a race to savour.
By David Thiselton
