Chevauchee could well jump straight from a maiden to a Grade 2 on Saturday week after fully justifying her exalted home reputation in the opener at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Despite losing significant ground at the start she was able to lead 300m out and come away under not much more than hands and heels to win easing up.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe reported: “This is a very smart filly and she is going to get better over further. We are expecting quite a bit from her.”
The Australian-bred is by the dual Derby winner High Chaparral out of a Danehill daughter of Irish Oaks winner Knight’s Baroness. She is owned by the Ridgemont Stud of Magnum boss Wayne Kieswetter.
Joey Ramsden said: “I have only had one horse before that could outrun the treadmill and that was Variety Club. This one can do it too and I will definitely consider the Choice Carriers.”
Vaughan Marshall is gearing Exelero back towards the big time after the way the Byleveld-ridden 12-1 shot disposed of the big names to win the Pinnacle Stakes in a time only a third of a second outside the course record.
He said: “Exelero is now showing us what he was showing early in his career. I am prepping him for the Cape Merchants on November 14 and then we will see how good he is.”
Heartland, the 7-2 favourite, disappointed but the course vet found him short behind. Justin Snaith, though, reckons that Prince Of Wales is an Investec Cape Derby contender even though Donovan Dillon’s mount only got up close home in a blanket finish for the seven furlong maiden.
He said: “This was over the short run-in with a tail wind. Over ten furlongs on the summer course he will be ten lengths better.”
This was Snaith’s 50th winner of the season and was the fastest half century of his meteoric career. Brother Jonathan reckons this is the fastest 50 that any South African trainer has ever achieved.
Stable companion Petala, who justified favouritism in the 1 400m Progress Plate, goes for the Choice Carriers but Snaith doubts her ability to get a mile in the Fillies Guineas.
Ovidio, who completed a double for Sean Cormack and a treble for Snaith in the Woolavington, was stepping up in trip and is expected to stay further.
Snaith said: “It has taken a lot of work to get him here – it hasn’t been plain sailing by any means – and we have had to do a lot of building.”
Consequentially started favourite for the Place Your Bets Maiden won by Grant van Niekerk on the Bass-trained Seventh Sister but finished plum last. She hit the rail before the straight and fell back as she became unbalanced. Darryl Hodgson, Hassen Adams and Chris Puller had better luck with Valediction in the six furlong fillies maiden.
– Michael Clower
– Picture: Ovidio winning the Woolavington at Kenilworth yesterday (courtesy of SportingPost.co.za)
