Chasing Happiness won effortlessly last time out two months ago under Piere Strydom and Gavin Lerena now takes over as Strydom is retained by the owners of White Pearl. (Picture: Racing Today)
Mrs Browning will be out to retain her crown in the Gr 3 Betway Carry On Alice Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, a race which forms a difficult first leg of the Pick 6, but she could be denied by the progressive Chasing Happiness.
The Sean Tarry-trained Rafeef mare Mrs Browning has only had one outing this season and was beaten 6,75 lengths over the course and distance. However, she was drawn in the tough barrier one position that day and the victor of that race was the best sprinter in the country, Dyce. Furthermore, Mrs Browning is slung in at the weights on Saturday, being 3,5kg better off with the second best weighted horses, Winter Greeting and White Pearl. On top of that she has a nice high draw and has in form Gavin Lerena aboard.
However, another daughter of Rafeef could be the one to side with. The up and coming Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Chasing Happiness is improving all the time and impressed last time when winning effortlessly. She is officially 4,5kg under sufferance with Mrs Browning, but is progressive and looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement, so is a a big runner from draw ten with Aldo Domeyer up.
Mrs Browning’s stablemate Mia Moo is the favourite, but although that is a justified choice on her good form and progressive profile, winning a big field feature down the Turffontein straight course from draw two is usually tough, although there was one Summer Cup meeting where the inside draws were actually favourable, a rare occurrence.
A more interesting stablemate could be Troppo Veloce, who is drawn on the right side and on a line through Dyce is weighted to finish on top of Mrs Browning. However, the latter would surely have come on from that last run.
If Troppo Veloce is given a chance then Elegant Ice from the in form Lucky Houdalakis stable has a form chance and the latter jumps from draw 8.
White Pearl won well last time over 1400m and the last time she tried this course and distance she was second in a Gr 3 and she beat Mrs Browning by 2,35 lengths. At the weights she could repeat that dose but the problem is Mrs Browning was drawn one that day and on Saturday White Pearl has a tough low draw of three.
Winter Greeting ran a fine race in the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over course and distance back in April and did well in her reappearance last time when finishing two lengths ahead of Mrs Browning. However, she is now 4kg worse off with the latter and has draw six to negotiate. Richard Fourie is up so Winter Greeting can’t be ignored.
CallmewhenUneedme is on the up but she is 5,5kg under sufferance with Mrs Browning and Trent Mayhew will not be able to claim his usual 2,5kg unlike last time.
The youngster Poblano has been thrown in at the deep end and is officially 10kg under sufferance with Mrs Browning but she looks to have talent and should still improve so could earn from a high draw.
East Cape raider Passchendale is in fine form, but draw one makes it tough.
One Fell Swoop has the ability but has not run for five months and has a tough low draw.
Where’s The Party is drawn on the right side, but has a tough task with Chasing Happiness, being just 2kg better off for a comfortable 5,90 length beating.
Garlandsofgreenery has ability, but has not run for over ten months.
You Bring Me Joy has some good Turffontein form, but has not run since ending last season under a bit of a cloud.
Gimmefabulous has a hard task at the weights and hasn’t run this season yet.
Tamil Tigress has a tough task at the weights.
Chasing Happiness is taken to beat Mrs Browning and those two might be able to get punters through the first leg of the Pick 6, although the risk averse will lilely want to put more than just two in.
