Jockey Karl Neisius rates Australian-bred Laisserfaire the best filly he has partnered and the ice-cool rider has the chance to guide her to her tenth win from just 14 races in the R250 000 weight-for-age grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1 000m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The brilliant daughter of Danehill, from the string of ambitious Sabine Plattner, is in fact going for a double as she won this race last year after winning the Cape’s main fillies’ sprints, the Southern Cross and the Sceptre, both of which she took in her stride again this season.
With the ability to finish strongly from behind or to keep going from the front, it will take a good sort to lower the flying filly’s colours.
One who just might do it is Charles Laird’s versatile Nhlavini. This one has placed in grade 1 company over 1 800m (and lined up in the July) but comes off a hat-trick of 1 200m victories.
Whether the son of National Emblem has the speed to cope with a top-class sprinter over the minimum distance remains to be seen.
He arrived just in time to pip the free-running Syon at level weights in his last victory and Piere Strydom will have to get him much closer to the pace if he is to have any chance against Laisserfaire.
Syon looked a winner before Nhlavini flew up to deny him last time. Over this 200m shorter trip the Fort Wood gelding might well turn the tables on his conqueror, who, incidentally, will represent South Africa in the $2-million Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai in March.
An interesting runner is Port Elizabeth visitor Scent Of The Chase, a winner of seven races from just eight starts. His sole defeat came at the hands of his champion stable companion Knockout back in April last year. The three-year-old son of Complete Warrior is probably still improving and although this is his toughest test to date, his best might still be coming.
Gauteng visitor Pillar To Post and surprise Queen’s Plate third Eli’s Game look best of the rest.
In the R125 000 grade 2 Majorca Stakes over a mile Mike de Kock’s Velvet Green gets the chance to redeem her reputation. The Brazilian-bred filly was one of the most exciting in action last year but recently she has invariably drawn very wide and has run below her sparkling best. She has a good draw here and was supported last time a move that should always be respected when De Kock’s runners are involved.
Fillies Guineas winner Sports Chestnut (Strydom up) is bound to run well and is a very real threat.
Kenilworth best bet: L’Esperance (race 5) Greyville best bets: Starman (race 3); Imperial Triumph (race 7); Delaware Park (race 8) Turffontein best bet: Simply Salmon (race 5)