The Frank Robinson-trained dual Gr 3 winner Olma is in foal to Trippi, but there is a plan to run her while in foal on Vodacom Durban July day. She will run in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, in which she was runner up last year.
Meanwhile, Robinson’s Antonius Pius filly Under The Stars impressed on her debut on the Greyville poly on Friday night and the yard have high hopes for her. Olma was bred to Northern Hemisphere time and will travel later in the year to Europe. Her owner Zalim Bifov has a breeding operation in Ireland. Robinson said there was also a plan in the pipeline to send Olma to the mighty Frankel.
Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)
Racing a mare in foal is not unusual and they sometimes actually show significant improvement. The USA-based record stakes earner Spain won a Gr 2 while in foal to Storm Cat and there are many other examples, a South African one being the Ormond Ferraris-trained Overarching, who finished second to Ilha da Vitoria in the Gr 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes while in foal to Fort Wood.
Spain’s trainer D. Wayne Lukas said back in 2002 after Spain was impregnated that little had changed in her training regimen. He added, “Since she got in foal, from knowing her and being around her her entire career, I could see that she was really blossoming. Her hair coat was unbelievable and her whole glow and demeanour were excellent.”
Dr Michelle LeBlanc, a veterinarian specializing in equine reproductive issues, said at the time that this wouldn’t have been a coincidence.
She said, “Progesterone is a wonderful calming drug. Once they get pregnant, you have high levels of progesterone, so you don’t have to deal with the nervousness or the finickiness and they become less high strung.”
On Friday night the rangy Under The Stars was backed into 9/2 in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m. She was slow away before using her big stride to get within striking distance under Muzi Yeni.
She ran on strongly in the straight and at the line was pulling away from the running on Pathfork first-timer Tweed Valley. She won by 1,75 lengths and there was a further 2,5 lengths back to the third-placed horse, the Querari first-timer So Vain. The rest of the field were spread out like the washing, which is often the sign of good form. On the downside the time was nearly half-a-second slower than the following race, which was a weak maiden plate contested mainly by three-year-olds.
However, Under The Stars was extending at the line and Robinson confirmed she is definitely looking for further. He will be looking at Juvenile races over 1400m for The Alchemy-bred filly and how she performs will determine whether she goes for the Gr 2 R600,000 Golden Slipper over 1400m or the Non-Black Type KZN Yearling Million over 1300m. Both race are run on Vodacom Durban July day and the one carries a black type opportunity, while the other is more lucrative.
The Under The Stars’ formline should be worth following, such was the impression she created.
by David Thiselton
