Sean Tarry’s Pomodoro filly Return Flight put herself in the running for a second Equus Award when leading from start to finish under Anton Marcus to win Saturday’s Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and she will now go for the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m.

Return Flight was last season’s Equus Champion two-year-old filly courtesy mainly of a win in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville and has joined Front And Centre and Clouds Unfold as a Grade 1 winner from the three-year-old fillies crop this season.

Tarry was sure she would get the 2450m Oaks distance.

Marcus took this galloping type straight to the front from draw two and dictated at a pedestrian pace. She kicked on well and was able to keep all the challengers at bay including the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Nafaayes, who was a 0,80 length runner up.

Tarry said Return Flight would be nominated for the Vodacom Durban July, but it would first have to be seen how she went in a race like the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000. The handicappers have accorded her a 105 merit rating, up by three points.

Tarry confirmed that the mare bookings to Pomodoro had already been improving in quality due to the early success he had had in his stud career with the like of Return Flight and Cirillo.

Tarry’s other SA Fillies Classic runner, the Twice Over filly Second Request, disappointed and finished an 8,25 length tenth. However, he pointed out she was a staying type and hence had not enjoyed the slow pace at all. She could bounce back in the SA Oaks.

Tarry also won the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m with Wonderous Climber, who lost ground at the start but ran on strongly under Lyle Hewitson. This four-year-old Dynasty gelding has turned the corner since being sent over staying trips and has now won five of his last six starts. He has risen from a 62 merit rating to an 85. Tarry said his initial target in the Champions Season would be the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m at Greyville on June 1.

Tarry was disappointed in the run of Zillzaal in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m, despite finishing fourth behind three top class horses. It was his distance behind them which had not pleased him. Before the race he had considered him a Vodacom Durban July possibility, but is now not so sure. However, he did say this horse preferred a quieter ride than he had been given. He had run handy is a fast run race. He also believed he might not be concentrating and would consider equipping him with blinkers. He will go for the SA Derby next.

Last weekend Chimichuri Run ran a good 1,05 length third in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth. He was not running with a 2kg penalty, unlike the winner Kasimir, so the margin can’t be taken on face value. Tarry is not convinced he is a five furlong horse, but will still likely run him in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on May 4, a race which Kasimir will avoid. Tarry reckoned Chimichuri Run had also been a bit too handy in the Diadem and believed he was a better horse coming from off the pace.

The two fillies Green Plains and Exquisite Touch will also be Computaform entry possibilities, although Tarry is happy with what they have achieved to date and anything further would be a bonus.

Another obvious candidate for the Computaform would be Cirillo, although like Chimichuri Run and Green Plains he would probably prefer six furlongs. Cirillo is the highest earning thoroughbred in South Africa this season, which is a fine feather in the cap for Pomodoro.

By David Thiselton