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Saturday sees the running of the Grade 3 Diana Stakes, a weight for age race for three and four year old fillies, at the country course of Durbanville in the Cape.
Photo by Gold Circle
The race, normally run at Kenilworth, has been moved to Durbanville, while the Kenilworth course is being prepared for the Summer season.
With the local version of Black Caviar carded to appear after a long absence, a bumper crowd is expected to come and soak up the spring sun, while cheering their heroine home.
Ebony Flyer, the big black daughter of Jet Master, achieved stardom when she reeled in three wins, including a Listed and a Grade 2, in quick succession by a combined 11 lengths. She then rounded off her trophy collection with the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas, where she became one of only two horses to have ever beaten the current Horse Of The Year, Igugu (AUS).
In her next start, the Grade 1 Queens Plate, the unbeaten filly inexplicably finished third to multiple Graded winner, Mother Russia. Subsequent investigations revealed that the filly had a breathing problem. She duly had a wind operation and this is her first start after having been rested for 280 days. Felix Coetzee has the ride.
Justin Snaith her trainer is cautious and yet excited about his star filly's comeback.
“She has been out for a long time, but it seems as if the wind operation has been successful.
Durbanville is an undulating course, so we are going to take it cautiously, but I wouldn't be running her if I didn't think she was ready. We will see what she is made of.”
Snaith has also entered the very talented Emerald Cove, winner of the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes.
Emerald Cove spent the winter in Durban where she finished second behind Igugu in the Grade 1 Woolavington and second behind Beach Beauty in the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet.
On a course where the draw is all important, Ebony Flyer drew stall number three, while Emerald Cove jumps from stall four. Both fillies clearly have bigger targets in mind, but if fit could finish a very satisfying one, two for Snaith.
The only other horse to have swished her tail at Igugu is Hollywoodboulevard (Aus), a daughter of Street Cry out of Soneria. She managed to put a length between herself and Igugu in the Ready to Run Cup a year ago. She then went on to win four races in a row, but in her subsequent two outings Igugu exacted revenge in no uncertain terms.
Hollywoodboulevard has been off the track for six months and has had a change of stables. Her new trainer Mike Bass commented that the filly is well and that he is happy with the way she is coming on. “She has shown good pace at home and has a good draw” added Bass. Karel Nesius has the ride and the filly will jump from stall two.
In form trainer Joey Ramsden saddles three runners, all with contention. 3 year-old Leeward is the pick of the bunch. The daughter of top sire Captain Al has won four races in a row by a combined distance of 11 lengths. She does take a big step up in class here, and is returning from a three month rest.
Ramsden uses a treadmill to get his horses fit and while not a 100%, the filly is sure to be competitive. Glenn Hatt takes the reins and the filly jumps from stall six.
“Leeward is talented and although returning from a three month rest she will be pretty fit” commented Ramsden.
Photo by Gold Circle
Of his other two runners, he likes Maxixe as she will be running over her ideal trip, while In Like Flynn is capable of filling the minor places.
The dark horse in the race is the Yogas Govender trained Barcelona Winter. Although the daughter of Western Winter has won her last three starts, she is meeting a much stronger field here. With talented Andrew Fortune on her back, she could be fighting out the minor places.
All in all, Ebony Flyer should win this one easily with her stable companion, Emerald Cove, chasing her home, leaving Hollywoodboulevard, Leeward, Maxixe and Barcelona Winter to fill the minor places.