This year’s crop of sophomore fillies has proved exceptional and Carry On Alice and Alboran Sea drove home the point in the Gr 1 City of Pietermaritzburg Sprint at Scottsville yesterday. Alboran Sea has had the wood on Carry On Alice in recent meetings but the stretch to 1200m on the testing Scottsville track saw Sean Tarry’s filly turn the tables in no uncertain manner.

Jet Aglow and Varikate cut the early gallop with Alboran Sea and Carry On Alice head-to-head stalking the pace. Through the dip and up the hill both jockeys went for broke but it was Carry On Alice who was able to pick up best. The two locked horns for a few strides but Carry On Alice eventually ground her way to the front and extended to win by nearly two lengths with Alboran Sea just holding a fast-finishing Fly By Night at bay.

Tarry was in two minds as to Carry On Alice’s next mission. “I think the Mercury is an option or the Garden Province. It could all depend on where she draws in the Garden Province because an outside draw at Greyville is never easy.”

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)