The Frank Robinson-trained Olma defends her crown in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on New Year’s Day and her trainer boldly said, “If she is herself she will win this race.”

Robinson expects her to be around her best, although he is concerned by her draw of eleven in a thirteen horse field.

Last year she won comfortably from a draw of four.

She went into the race last year off the back of two preparation races at Greyville over 1900m on the poly and 1800m on the turf respectively in which she finished second and first respectively.

This year she goes in off just one preparation race, an unplaced run over 1600m at Scottsville on December 4.

Robinson said, “I gave her a break after her run in Johannesburg in August, so she needed the run at Scottsville. It was a preparation race for the Flamboyant and the ground was also a bit hard for her. She likes a bit of sting out of the ground and Greyville is in good condition at present. We have also worked on her joints since that last race and she has turned the corner. She has been working well and moving very well.”

Furthermore, the five-year-old Dynasty mare has been unplaced in all three of her runs at Scottsville, but loves Greyville.

Olma had tended to pull early in her career, but the application of a tongue tie was a key move as she then settled well, enabling her to use her superb turn of foot.

She proved in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes on Vodacom Durban July day she can settle even from a wide draw. She was dropped out in that race from a draw of ten in a fourteen horse field and ran on strongly to finish second to the champion Inara.

Marco van Rensburg, an accomplished jockey whose professionalism is now receiving just rewards, rides her for the first time in the Flamboyant.

Under the conditions of the race Olma is 2,5kg well in with Lala on official merit ratings and 3kg well in with Heaps Of Fun, the latter pair being the next best weighted horses.

In last year’s race Olma beat Lala by a cosy two lengths and the latter is once again draw two barrier positions outside of her.

Heaps Of Fun has a nice draw of six with Anton Marcus up. She won last season’s Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein from the same draw. She looks to have enjoyed an excellent preparation. In her seasonal reappearance on Sansui Summer Cup day she ran a 6,75 length fifth in the Gr 3 Daily Sun Magnolia Handicap over 1160m at Turffontein, not a bad comeback effort considering she had a tricky low draw and was conceding 8kg to the top class three-year-old winner Green Pepper. Then two weeks later on December 10 she ran a 2,75 length second at level weights to her classy contemporary Joan Ranger in a Progress Plate over 1200m at the Vaal, where she was staying on with long strides at the line.

Last season she was beaten 2,15 lengths in the Garden Province by Olma, but was caught wide the whole way without cover, whilst Olma had cover throughout further back.

Heaps Of Fun, considering her preparation, will be a tough nut to crack.

The three-year-old Dawn Calling can’t be ignored either. She is highly regarded and suffered rotten luck last time in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. She now has the pole position draw with Eric Ngwane up.

The like of Impala Lily, Fort Ember and Well In Flight will also provide threats in what will be an intriguing contest.

By David Thiselton