Gimme Six has a favourite’s chance in the Interbet.co.za Conditions Plate at Kenilworth today and at the weights she is hard to oppose, particularly as she has had a run under her belt.
Last season’s Daisy Fillies Guineas winner was beaten two and a quarter lengths by Goodtime Gal on her reappearance in last month’s Diana Stakes and is now 4.5kg better. “The track was running very quick that day,” recalls Justin Snaith who adds: “She has been doing very well at home.”
Gimme Six
She opened at 28-10 with World Sports Betting on Monday and has since shortened to 22-10. Snaith confirms that Grant van Niekerk’s mount is regarded as the stable’s main hope but adds: “Francia (25-1) needs further although Star Express (nibbled at from 25-1 to 18-1) could pop up in trifectas and quartets. She is a good mare and, like the other two, she is better in Cape Town than she is in Durban.”
Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rode Gimme Six in the Diana, has switched back to Goodtime Gal on whom he won a Pinnacle two races back. “She has her work cut out at the weights but she is spot on,” says Mike Robinson of the 6-1 chance.
Gimme Six is only third best on adjusted merit ratings and 7-1 shot Lady Of The House comes out top although she has not been seen since beating the Snaith filly a head in the Woolavingtin at the beginning of June. “She will need this run to get to her peak but she is fit enough to be competitive and she is very well in,” is the opinion of Brett Crawford who is three-handed and adds: “Louisiana (22-1) will just need it while Seattle Gold (35-1) needed her run in the Diana last time.”
Safe Harbour, only just beaten in last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas, is second best at the weights and 5-1 second favourite. She has the benefit of a recent run. “She is in good shape but it’s more of a prep for the Victress Stakes and the Paddock Stakes,” says Sean Tarry.
Lyle Hewitson’s mount is a talented filly and looks a big danger while 8-1 chance Nightingale comes out only half a kilo behind Gimme Six. However this is the Majorca winner’s first outing since her second in the Gold Bracelet nearly four months ago. Candice Bass-Robinson believes she will need it.
Anthony Delpech has already been booked to ride Nightingale in the big races and, as Aldo Domeyer has opted for 9-1 Diana third Whose That Girl, MJ Byleveld gets the call.
The Ramsden pair Epona (20-1) and Captain Gambler (33-1) have it do at the weights as their prices would suggest. So too does Silvan Star who has eased from 6-1 to 8-1. She is set to give lumps to all bar Goodtime Gal. “She doesn’t take a lot of work but she is out of the weights,” Glen Kotzen acknowledges.
Pata Pata is a prohibitive 7-10 in the first but is hard to oppose while 15-10 favourite Vase has Omega Force (28-10) to beat in race two.
By Michael Clower
