Barrier Trial Greyville poly 1000m 14/03/2018
1st Dame Commander (Drier/Delpech 3y0f 58kg) Western Winter filly who won her maiden by two lengths over 1200m at Scottsville last August in her third career start but hasn’t raced since. She was problematic at the start but looks to have plenty of natural speed and after displaying good gate-speed and early pace she was quickly clear. She used her lengthy stride to stay on well and was throwing her front toe out nicely.
2nd 0,75 lengths Sail The Bay (Badenhorst/Brown 3yog 59kg) This Sail From Seattle gelding has had one fourth place finish in four starts, although he has faced some good horses, and he hasn’t raced since last June. He improved in his last two starts as a two-year-old and caught the eye in this trial as he came from near the back and closed in the straight with long strides in his first outing for a new yard. He is one to keep an eye on in ordinary maidens.
3rd 2,25 lengths Elsa Of Arendelle (Humby/De Gouveia 3yof 58 (-1,5kg) This unraced, nicely put together, Horse Chestnut filly has quite a high knee action and after a tardy start showed some pace and stayed on without being pushed.
4th 3,75 lengths Prince Charming (Anthony/Wrogemann 3yoc 59kg) This unraced Mullins Bay colt was having his second barrier trial, He is not the biggest and after a tardy start showed some early pace before losing touch and then staying on well in the straight. He strode out well the whole way.
5th 5,75 lengths Amber Furst (Whitehead/Randolph 3yof 58kg) This plain Traffic Guard filly was slowest away, but quickened well from last in the straight and stayed on.
6th 5,80 lengths Piaget Prince (Denysschen/Pagel 3yog 59kg) This Philanthropist gelding has placed twice over 1400m and 1600m respectively in five starts in ordinary maidens on the Highveld. He strode out nicely and after being shuffled back to last stayed on well in the straight. He wore first time blinkers but this trip is too sharp so it was difficult to tell whether he was comfortable with them or not.
7th 5,90 lengths Scorch (Anthony/Yeni 3yoc 59kg). This small but compact three-year-old King’s Chapel colt did not have the natural pace to be in the vanguard but stayed on quite well in the straight.
8th 6,40 lengths Little Audrey (Howells/Marcus 2yof 56kg). A good looking filly by exciting new sire Master Of My Fate. She caught the eye with her nice action, which covers some ground. Anton Marcus had her on a tight hold early and she was under no pressure to stay in touch with the older horses when slotted in behind and was still on a tight rein. She then ran on nicely in the straight in the hands. One to watch.
9th 6,55 lengths Luneburg (Bestel/Ngwane 3yof 58kg). She is well-bred being by Var out of Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner over 1200m, She’s A Winner. She showed good pace throughout when 5th on debut at Scottsville over 1200m and did the same when a touch unlucky in 4th over 1000m on the poly. Nothing worked out for her next time out over 1200m on the poly last November and she hasn’t raced since. This sprinting type showed good gatespeed and early pace in the trial under a tight hold. However, in the straight she was just held together and didn’t do anything wrong.
10th 6,80 lengths Fu Manchu (Humby/Gates (3yog 59(-4kg). This unimposing Visionaire gelding showed some early pace but was green entering the straight, losing position. From the 200m mark onward he stayed on quite well.
11th 9,30 lengths Spirit Of The Law (Lunn/Sakayi 2yof 56(-4kg) This Miesque’s Approval filly was a bit dwarfed by her older rivals here. She dwelt but then showed fair pace and stayed in touch in the straight until fading from the 150m mark.
By David Thiselton
