Turffontein Standside tomorrow features the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m and Folk Dance could upset Nother Russia.
Nother Russia (JC Photographics)
Folk Dance has a fine action which enables her to find gears in the straight at the right time. However, she can be a bit strong in the running so is at her best when well drawn. The last time she had a good draw was in the Fillies Mile and she hacked up. She now has a draw just one higher than her draw in that race, so Keagan de Melo will have a chance of finding good cover. If he does she will have a chance of defeating a similar type in Nother Russia. The latter is also able to find gears in the straight and is drawn in pole. She is coming off a fine second to the imperious miler Legal Eagle so is not surprisingly the 14/10 favourite with WSB in the early market, whereas Folk Dance is good value at 25/1. Cascapedia is the unknown factor. She has won five of six starts including two Grade 3s but has never been tested at this level. She was fancied for the Sun Met but was scratched after travelling down badly from Johannesburg.
She has improved since the blinkers were fitted and is undefeated with the headgear on. All of those races were over 1800m but she won her debut over 1400m and has been seen to over race a touch before, so this trip should be ideal running fresh. On the downside she is drawn wide. Silvan Star from the Cape has always struck as having plenty of class and has not had the luckiest of careers. However, she showed she can mix it with the best when running a 2,1 length fourth to probably the best miler filly in the land, Snowdance, in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes. She has a plum draw of three and will make her presence felt. Orchid Island was most disappointing in the Horse Chestnut when finishing more than 15 lengths behind Nother Russia, but if bouncing back to her best could feature, although she would prefer further. Al Danza has come into her own and is a dark horse over an ideal course and distance.
Simply Royal is another one who could surprise as she is well-bred and oozes class, while being a daughter of Silvano she will be improving all the time. Gimme Six has finished narrowly behind Silvan Star in her last two starts over 1600m and 1450m and has a wide draw to overcome. But she does have a fine turn of foot. Heaps Of Fun won the Gauteng Fillies Guineas but has not reproduced that effort over a mile to date. She’s A Giver finished second to Bela Bela in the Garden Province, although her wide draw will be against her as one who only just gets a mile. Safe Harbour can be a factor if reproducing her form of last season. Fish River proved her class in the Three Troikas over 1400m and is interesting with first-time blinkers on. Tahini looks held at this level but often surprises.
By David Thiselton
