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Serial winners Marina and Pretty Betty come to grips
Marina, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, has a six-from-11 winning record, while Mike Stewart-trained Pretty Betty has five on the trot from eight.
All eyes will be on two of the Mother City’s best fillies Chat Ching and Veronica Mars at Fairview on Friday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images
A battle royal is in prospect as two of Cape Town’s best fillies meet for the first time at Kenilworth on Tuesday, when racing is on the winter course.
Four-year-olds Marina and Pretty Betty eyeball each other in Race 5, a Pinnacle Stakes for females over 1600m, and their presence among the entries probably scared off other possible contenders as only four horses will oppose them – one a likely stable-mate pacesetter.
Marina, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, has a six-from-11 winning record, while Mike Stewart-trained Pretty Betty has five from eight – and those five were on the trot.
The latter has been rested for 122 days – since mid-July – following her heroics, so there might be a race-fitness question. But sheer class often carries a good horse through the heat of battle.
Marina was also given a break after her memorable triumph in the Western Cape Oaks in late-June and returned to action on 2 October in the Diana Stakes at Durbanville. The daughter of Silvano showed she was close to her best by galloping prominently throughout the 1400m – a trip short of her best – and finishing fourth, 3.30 lengths behind star sprinter Captain’s Ransom.
With her the query will be about the second-run-after-a-rest bogey that many a punter believes in.
Bass-Robinson also saddles Jet Time, a speedy sort who is outclassed in this company and will surely act the hare to prevent any tendency towards the infamous Cape Crawl.
SELECTIONS
1: 12 Thrilla, 1 Charity Ball, 6 For All We Know, 8 La Vida
2: 1 Warrior Bling, 2 Fynbos, 6 Fly Over, 5 Razzle Dazzle Em
3: 9 Let It Burn, 16 Zum Zum, 14 Sugar Mountain, 4 Donder Storm
4: 1 Red Kite, 10 Zippy Over, 8 Empress Of Jade, 3 Everglades
5: 1 Marina, 2 Pretty Betty, 4 Kailene, 3 Eva Eileen
6: 6 Top Quality, 3 Poltergeist, 4 Gem King, 7 Global Ally
7: 6 Pacaya, 7 Mr Master Starter, 8 Darjeeling, 3 Black Belt
8: 4 Tout A Fait, 8 Silent War, 3 Exceed Expectation, 14 Vengeance Forever
Pick 6: 1,4,9,14,16 x 1,10 x 1,2 x 3,4,6,7 x 2,3,6,7,8 x 3,4,8,11,14 (R2000)
PA: 1,2 x 9,14,16 x 1 x 1 x 3,6 x 6,7 x 3,4,8 (R72)
