The Dennis Drier yard are on a high after landing their 9th Scottsville Grade 1 victory and 11th overall on Saturday and they are now looking forward to a big run from Lady In Black in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 at Greyville on Saturday.
Drier is not a believer in the “second run after a rest” theory, which some racing people are adamant about, but the Dynasty filly did run a below par 2,85 length fifth in the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas last time having won impressively in her SA Champions Season pipe opener in the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m.
Lady In Black (Candiese Marnewick)
Drier said, “She is very well. Last time she ran three wide and the race just didn’t go well for her. Justin Snaith’s filly Oh Susanna is a champion and she is the one we have got to beat but Lady In Black couldn’t be better and has come on a lot for that last run, she will be a different filly on Saturday.
Lady In Black is drawn three out of a disappointing ten nominations. Stable jockey Sean Veale, who rode Var filly Sommerlied to victory in the SA Fillies Sprint on Saturday, will be aboard as usual. Lady In Black was initially an entry for the Vodacom Durban July, but was scratched after the Daisy Fillies Guineas and will stick to the fillies route.
Drier’s Grade 1 day started badly on Saturday when his joint favourite for the Allan Robertson Outlandos D’Amour finished unplaced.
He said he did not want to use the long delay at the start as an excuse but added, “She is usually so laid back, but she was in a muck sweat by the time she loaded and then played up in the pens.”
He believed this Captain Al filly would stay further than sprints, but both hers and Sommerlied’s futures would be under discussion.
Drier had three runners in a strong renewal of the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and he claimed a fourth place with the Master Of My Fate colt Goliath Heron.
By David Thiselton
