The Gareth van Zyl-trained Hollywood Racing-owned Asiye Phambili landed a second career Gr 3 of her career at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday under Richard Fourie when easily converting odds-on favouritism in the WSB Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m (pictured above, credit Wayne Mark) .
In other Van Zyl yard news Flag Man is out for the season as he requires surgery to a fetlock issude.
Van Zyl said the Gr 2 Cartier Sceotre Stakes over 1200m on LKP day, January 4, would be Asiye Phambili’s next target.
Regarding her running in the Gr 1 wfa Cape Flying Championship on WSB Met day, Van Zyl felt the 1000m trip would be too sharp for her in open company at Gr 1 wfa level, and said there would have to be a strong headwind on the day for her to be effective.
However, he said running her there had been considered.
The long term aim for her is likely the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.
She is trained by Duncan Howells when in KZN and Howells was supremely confident before last season’s SA Fillies Sprint … alas she stumbled badly and dislodged her rider.
The What A Winter filly was very well weighted on Saturday, being merit rated 116 in the weight for age contest with the second highest merit rated runner being the 102-rated Nordic Quest.
She broke well and Fourie just relaxed on her as Candy Town opened up a big lead.
However, Asiye Phambili fetched her in the last 400m with relative ease and won going away by 1,25 lengths, with Candy Town hanging on for second. Summer Lily, Miss World and Nordic Quest were next best respectively.
