The most impressive feature stakes winner on Saturday was the Billy Ruiters-trained three-year-old filly MIss Daisy (Crusade), who never looked in danger of defeat in the Non-Black Type The Lady’s Stakes over 1200m at Turffontein Inside.
Miss Daisy looked a handicapping certainty on paper, but was ignored by most pundits.
However, the astute cashed in by backing her in from 8/1 to 5/2.
The highest rated three-year-old in the country at present is the 115-rated Sean Tarry-trained Sweet Pepper.
She earned that rating when winning the Grade 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m.
The last time Miss Daisy ran over 1200m, she was beaten half-a-length by Sweet Pepper at level weights with the rest of the field thrashed.
Miss Daisy ran in Saturday’s The Lady’s Stakes carrying the minimum weight of 52kg. Yet, she had snuck into the handicap off a 99 merit rating, 16 points below Sweet Pepper’s rating.
The reason some overlooked her might have been due to the common false belief in this country that young three-year-olds are rated too highly by the handicapper.
The stats actually show that the three-year-old strike rate in handicaps is at its highest in August, September and October.
Billy Ruiters’ small-yard status might have also put pundits off. Horses from such yards often start over-priced.
Nevertheless, Miss Daisy, and Ruiters, made a mockery of those who had ignored the impressive filly.
She never looked like losing.
She bounced out from draw two and her huge stride took her into the lead.
She stretched out superbly the whole way and without ever coming under pressure Ryan Munger was able to pat her on the head a few strides before the line.
She started Tote favourite and beat second favourite Mercury Rising (Gimmethegreenlight), a four-year-old having her second start for Paul Peter and carrying topweight of 61.5kg, by a comfortable 2,20 lengths. Bon Vivant (William Longsword) ran on well for a 2,45 length third and the rest of the field were stretched out like the washing.
Miss Daisy’s time was only 0,34 seconds slower than Team Gold’s and she did win easing up.
The handicappers have raised her six points to 106.
The Bush Hill Stud-bred filly is an exciting prospect for the season.
She is owned by SS Pooe.
