THE R1-million Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m could be one of the highlights of Vodacom Durban July Day when country’s top fillies will fight it out for top honours.
The race is one of nine features at the meeting and shares Grade 1 status with the Durban July.
The likes of Bela-Bela, Just Sensual, Star Express, Polyphonic, Gimme Six, Final Judgement and Nightingale have all been nominated for this top weight-for-age race for fillies and mares0m, the race where runners from all racing jurisdictions come together to establish who’s who in the pecking order among the female horses.
Justin Snaith commented after Bela-Bela’s third place in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge: “It’s a pity we will have to meet Just Sensual.”
The grey filly’s participation in the Vodacom Durban July still up in the air.
Dynasty filly Just Sensual beat Nightingale home in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes, following up on her brilliant second to the country’s now-retired queen of speed Carry On Alice.
Star Express, also from the Snaith stable, ran fourth behind Just Sensual in the Tibouchina Stakes and earlier in the year finished 0.50 lengths behind Nightingale in the prestigious Grade 1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth. Gimme Six, another Snaith-trained horse, was just touched off in a controversial finish by Lady Of The House in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.
The mouth waters at the possibility of all standing their ground at the final acceptance stage and treating the 50,000 racegoers at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July Day to a spectacular racing experience.
Entries for the R1-million Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m on Vodacom Durban July Day:
6 Bela-Bela (4F) Justin Snaith 60 109
18 Nightingale (4F) C Bass-Robinso 60 105
10 Bella Sonata (4F) Gavin van Zyl 60 103
17 Star Express (4F) Justin Snaith 60 103
13 Fort Ember (4F) Paul Peter 60 100
14 Polyphonic (4F) Alec Laird 60 100
4 Chevauchee (4F) Brett Crawford 60 98
7 Frosty Friday (4F) Gavin van Zyl 60 97
15 Kilauea (4F) David Nieu’nhuizen 60 96
12 Chestnuts n Pearls (4F)Dennis Drier 60 95
24 Tiger’s Touch (5M) Sean Tarry 60 93
21 Wukkin’ Up (5M) Sean Tarry 60 93
23 Louisiana (4F) Brett Crawford 60 92
20 Flying Silver (4F) Garth Puller 60 83
9 Just Sensual (3F) Joey Ramsden 59 109
2 Gimme Six (3F) Justin Snaith 59 106
22 Final Judgement (3F) Glen Kotzen 59 103
11 Bi Pot (3F) Geoff Woodruff 59 98
5 Oriental Oak (3F) Glen Kotzen 59 97
8 Dawn Calling (3F) Duncan Howells 59 95
3 She’s A Giver (3F) J J van Vuuren 59 95
19 Captain Gambler (3F) Joey Ramsden 59 92
1 Trippi’s Girl (3F) Glen Kotzen 59 88
16 Visuality (3F) Sean Tarry 59 87
There will be a supplementary entry stage on 19 June and final acceptances fall due the following.
Photo: Gimme Six.