Duncan Howells was confident Asiye Phambili would go close in last year’s Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint, only for her to peck at the start and drop the rider.
She now has a chance to make amends.
Howells said at the races on Saturday, “She is doing very, very well in herself, I’m happy with her preparation. She was very unlucky to lose last time out, she had a great Cape season and I feel she’s on the up and I think she will give a really good account of herself.”
The What A Winter five-year-old mare won both the Gr 3 WSB Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m and the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m, both at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, during her Cape Town campaign before finishing a 6,95 length sixth in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship, which was a decent effort considering the winner Gimme A Prince won by 5,75 lengths.
In her Champions Season pipe opener she jumped from draw eight out of 12 carrying topweight of 62kg in the Gr 3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and looked to have the race won as she travelled well throughout and moved up well to hit the front 200m out. However, the jockey dropped the rein when changing whiphands and this saw her hanging inward across the course. She might well have otherwise won as she only lost by 0,40 length to three-year-old Mai Sensation, to whom she gave 8,5kg.
That was her first start since the Cape Flying, meaning she had a three month layoff, so the run should have brought her on.
Asiye Phambili is quoted at 5/1 by Hollywoodbets and is the second favourite behind the classy Justin Snaith-trained 9/2 shot, Double Grand Slam.
Double Grand Slam has not raced since finishing a shorthead second in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1600m on WSB Met day four months ago and her best trip is from 1400m upward.
In fact Asiye Phambile beat her by 2,60 lengths on weight for age terms over this distance in the Gr 2 Cartier Scepte Stakes of 2024.
However, Double Grand Slam was still a three-year-old then and it was only her sixth career start.
The Vercingetorix filly has blossomed since then and Richard Fourie has gotten to know her inside out.
However, Double Grand Slam has the tricky draw of one on Saturday, which can be troublesome because the horses tend to come over from the ooutside to the middle or inside and this can leave the low drawn horses with traffic problems. This is what happened to the crack filly Gimmie’s Countess in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson last year.
Double Grand Slam does have plenty of pace though and might be able to hold her position.
Asiye Phambili will be able to afford to relax in her normal style from draw ten before turning it on in her normal style.
Sean Tarry, who has won this race a phenomenal eight times, runs Double Grand Slam’s arch rival Rascova as well as last year’s runner up Mrs Browning and the ever improving Mia Moo. Rascova is best at 1400m, but does take a hold before staying on resolutely, so might be suited to this tough 1200m course and distance. Mrs Browning bounced back to form in her last start and will be a big runner if at her best. Mia Moo has won her last two and looks to be distance suited.
The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Chasing Happiness has won a Gr 3 and a Gr 2 this season and is only 2kg worse off with Mrs Browning after beating her by 1,50 lengths last time. She can find extra late so might well enjoy this tough course and distance.
Symphony In White was a narrow third in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson last year so is course and distance suited, but she does have a tough task with Asiye Phambili on their meeting in the Poinsettia as she was beaten 0,3 lengths by the latter and is now 5,5kg worse off.
Gimmie’s Countess has never quite delivered her exciting potential, but she waas beaten over 15 lengths in the Poinsettia and has a hard task with Asiye Phambili on Cartier Sceptre Stakes form too, where she was beaten 3,15 lengths.
Just Be Lekker is full of potential and although 6,5kg out at the weights with Double Grand Slam and Rascova and 3,5kg out with Asiye Phambile, she signalled last tme that she could be coming into her own. She could well rise above her 109 merit rating, so she could be the dark horse.
Whistle The Tune is another one who could rise above her merit rating as she has bits and pieces of very good form.
Mai Sensation is in good form but has a hard task at the weights of confirming form with Asiye Phambili.
Chrome Tourmaline looks held by Mia Moo.
Gimme A Shot also has 2,10 lenghs to make up on Mia Moo.
Frozen Fantasy has a very tough task at the weights.
Convocation looks outclassed in this line up.
Asiye Phambili is taken to win it from Double Grand Slam, Mia Moo, Chasing Happiness and Just Be Lekker.
