Ashburton’s leading trainer Duncan Howells will have a fine chance of winning the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championships over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday with Neptune’s Rain.

This Antonius Pius filly showed good cruising speed in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville and then displayed a fine turn of foot to win going away by 1,25 lengths.

Neptune’s Rain (Nkosi Hlophe)

The runner up Made In Hollywood had won her maiden by 6,25 lengths over 1200m at Kenilworth and subsequently finished just 1,25 lengths behind one of the best two-year-old colts in Cape Town, Dutch Phillip, over 1000m. Third-placed Gold Image, beaten 3,25 lengths by Neptune’s Rain, impressed when easily winning her debut over 800m and then finished an outstanding third in the Kuda Sprint over 1200m on Sun Met day. The Kuda Sprint has proved to be one of the strongest two-year-old form races in the country this season. Gold Image’s run at Scottsville was her first since the Kuda Sprint, so she should have come on from it.

Elusive Fort filly Crymeariver will be a runner, having burst through impressively to beat Neptune’s Rain by 1,5 lengths in her only start, although if the 4kg claim is included she was receiving 7kg.

Crymeariver’s Australian-bred stablemate Touch Of Magic is an impressive specimen and won her only start by 3,75 lengths on debut over 1000m at Scottsville with a 2,5kg claimer up. The form hasn’t worked out exceptionally well, but she won easily and will relish the step up in trip.

Call To Account has to be a massive runner too as she beat the previously mentioned Dutch Phillip on Met day, albeit over 1000m. In her only subsequent start against the boys over 1200m at Scottsville she set the fractions, but faded late to be beaten 3,65 lengths by Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion contender Sand And Sea. However, on pedigree this Captain Al filly should easily get the 1200m trip as she is out of a Giant’s Causeway mare who won three times over 2400m.

SA Fillies Nursery winner Green Plains gave Celestina 3kg and a 2,75 length beating over 1100m in the Pretty Polly Stakes and the latter was beaten 5,5 lengths at level weights over 1000m by Call To Account on Met day. On paper that points to Call To Account having the edge, but Green Plains has improved with every run and looks to be a tough filly who will enjoy the Scottsville course and distance.

Light On Her Toes is by Gimmethegreenlight out of Allan Robertson winner On Her Toes and three winners have come out of the race she won over 1200m at Greyville in her second career start.

The others are all held by at least one other runner on form, although Daring Diva only has to make up 2,25 lengths on Green Plains.

By David Thiselton