Andre Nel has his first two-year-old runner of the season in the Fillies Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth today and, given all his first-timer success with three-year-olds, there is going to be a lot of interest in Lanark.
Andre Nel (Supplied)
The grey is a daughter of Sail From Seattle and her trainer admits that, to some extent at least, he is in the dark. “We generally don’t run two-year-olds but she is precocious and needs to run,” he says. “She has only had one grass gallop and we have left a fair bit to work with. She is running without much pressure and she will give us a guide as to where we stand with our other juveniles.”
She has already been backed from 7-2 to 28-10 with World Sports Betting while Sassy Lady has drifted from 5-2 to 5-1. This is the form horse and gets a tentative vote although Lanark seems sure to get into the shake-up and there has been significant support for fellow newcomers Ballroom Dance and Freedom Charter.
Time To Think has gone close in her last two starts and is having her third run after a rest in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden. Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount is even money favourite and she is preferred to both the consistent Miss D’Aray (2-1) and her own stable companion Tiffindell who is a 3-1 chance.
The early money in race three – a 1 200m maiden – has been for the Vaughan Marshall newcomer Captain Falcon. Backed from 4-1 to 5-2 favourite the Captain Al colt cost R500 000 and is a full or half-brother to a string of useful winners. Given the market support, he looks the one.
He is taking on three of his own age and seven older horses but this is the time of year when the two-year-olds start to prove the better in maidens like this one. The Barry Burn (4-1) is also a juvenile and raced green when sixth to the smart Silver Coin on debut.
Of the others the one that makes most appeal is Lauren Of Rochelle who ran on strongly, but too late, when a quarter-length third to Power Shift three weeks ago. At 6-1 you can take out insurance by backing him each way if you don’t like the idea of an unraced favourite.
Shall Be Free is 5-2 to resume winning ways in the 1 400m handicap (race six) but this is an open race and Line Break could be worth a few rand at 5-1 with Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer in such form.
Strictly on the book he might not confirm last time’s Pinnacle placings with Purple Mountains who was hampered and is a huge price at 10-1. However Glen Puller is taking the blinkers off after three races with them on.
By Michael Clower
