David Thiselton
WINTER SMOKE has been nominated for the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes to be run over 1000m at Kenilworth on December 12 after winning the Grade 3 WSB Magnolia Handicap over 1160m in fine style at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
Trainer Ashley Fortune said the three-year-old What A Winter filly had taken the run well.
She will monitor how she has pulled up and see what the opposition looks like before deciding in consultation with the partners whether to travel.
If she does travel she will stay on in Cape Town to also take in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m on the first day of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate festival on January 8 next year.
However, her chief target for the season will be the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville on June 5 next year.
“She deserves a Grade 1,” said Fortune.
She added there would be many options for her before that date and a distinct possibility would be a tilt at the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m on May 1 next year.
Fortune believes 1200m is the pacey filly’s best trip but said she might be just as effective over 1000m.
She said, “She fought the challengers off gamely on Saturday, but she has only ever been allowed to stride out freely over 1000m once (winning by 8,25 lengths on debut), so she could be just as good at that trip.”
On Saturday Winter Smoke was 0.5kg under sufferance carrying the minimum weight of 52kg and under Calvin Habib fended off four-year-old Gallic Princess, who carried 60.5kg, to win by 0,75 lengths. Double ‘O’ Eight finished a 1,25 length third carrying 53.5kg.
Winter Smoke was raised from 102 to 109 for the win and Gallic Princess was raised from 109 to 114.
Winter Smoke will thus have to show the normal weight for age improvement plus an additional 2.5kg to beat Gallic Princess in the SA Fillies Sprint if Saturday’s form is anything to go by. However, in her favour was that having led from the off she fought off Gallic Princess and was beginning to pull away at the line.
The tough 1000m at Kenilworth should suit her and she should also enjoy the 1200m course at Scottsville.
Both the Southern Cross and Sceptre are run under weight for age plus penalties conditions but the good news for her is that only Grade 1 and Grade 2 wins are penalised.
