Bless My Stars only just prevails in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic under S’Manga Khumalo (Candiese Lenferna).
Bless My Stars, like Billy Bowlegs, also has to overcome a wide draw, ten out of 11 as opposed to the latter’s nine out of eleven, to win the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over the tough Turffontein Standside 2450m.
But using the same analysis method as in the newsletter’s first article today, she was also seen to relax very well from the off in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and she relaxed well in the running.
She ran on resolutely down the straight to win by a short-head from a fast-finishing Feather Boa.
She is by Gimmethegreenlight, which creates a stamina doubt, because he was ostensibly a miler.
On of Gimmethegreenlight’s most successful sons, Got The Greenlight, was beaten in the SA Derby when overtaken late by Out Of Your League.
On the other hand Got The Greenlight had a tendency to idle when hitting the front. In the Derby he might simply have hit the front too soon. He produced his usual devastating finishing run, from last on this occasion, and then applied the brakes when hitting the front 200m out. This allowed the pacemaker as well as the handy Shango to fight back and beat him. He was beaten only 0,70 lengths though.
Surcharge was another top class Gimmethegreenlight who was beaten by a rank outsider, Hero’s Honour, in the SA Derby, while Gimme’s son Second Base ran third in the SA Derby as the second favourite.
However, there have been Gimmethegreenlights who have stayed.
Gimme One Night, who was out of a mare by stamina influence Parade Leader, won two Grade 3s over 2500m and 3200m respectively.
Evolver, who was out of a Western Winter mare, finished second in the country’s longest race, the Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup over 3600m.
Green Haze, also out of a Western Winter mare, was also twice stakes placed over staying trips from 2400m to 2850m.
Catchafallingstar, who was out of a Foveros mare, finished third in the Grade 2 Western Cape Stayers over 2850m.
However, that still shows just one Gimmethegreenlight to have won at stakes level over a staying trip … and he was out of a mare who was by a stamina influence.
Therefore, Bless My Stars hopefully has some stamina on the female side.
Indeed, she does as she is out of a Silvano mare.
Silvano needs no introduction as a stamina influence.
The particular mare Star Express had plenty of class too. She had a lone Graded success, in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m. However, her three-year-old season was curtailed just after she had slammed a handicap field over 2000m by 3,75 lengths, so who knows what she could have achieved.
Nevertheless, Bless My Stars looks to have every chance of seeing it out, considering her pedigree and her ability to relax.
There are some standouts among the opposition who need to be mentioned though.
Lady Of Power, who won the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, is a long-strider with a relaxed style of running. Being by Master Of My Fate out of a Fort Wood mare also augurs well.
Silver Hills should definitely get the trip being by Silvano out of impressive SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud.
None Other is by stamina influence Flower Alley out of a Dynasty three-parts sister to Oaks winner Ilha Bela. She has done nothing wrong to date, so could be a big runner.
Reny did not settle well in the early stages of the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, but she was still staying on late. Now jumping from pole position, she could be interesting if finding cover and settling from the off. She is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Trippi full sister to middle distance Graded winner Paterfamilias, so there is a slight stamina doubt on pedigree.
It should be an intriguing contest and Bless My Stars is taken to give stalwart trainer Sean Tarry another big victory at the Big T.
