Final acceptors for L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes
Top Cape filly Inara heads the final acceptors for the R1-million L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein this Saturday.
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The Mike Bass-trained filly, who is currently based in KwaZulu-Natal, will take on eight other horses in the Grade 1 weight-for-age contest.
With a merit rating of 111, she is the highest-rated runner in the line-up and meets all of her rivals on better terms than would apply in a handicap.
This will be her first run away from the coast but the change in altitude should not affect her because she will only arrive the evening before the race and is coming from Summerveld, which is 673m above sea level (Johannesburg is 1,753m) and only eight hours by road, rather than the 24 hours from Cape Town.
Her companion on the journey will be Helderberg Blue’s lead pony Epic Tale, “a gentleman” who retired last year to become a companion.
Assistant-trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe says she is doing well. “Inara took her gallop last Thursday well and she is fit. Everything’s going well and she has a good draw.”
The final field for the R1-million L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1, weight-for-age) over 1600m at Turffontein this Saturday:
| 1 | 2 | Inara | Mike Bass | G van Niekerk | 60 | 111 | |
| 2 | 4 | Olma | Frank Robinson | I Sturgeon | 60 | 107 | |
| 3 | 3 | Tiger’s Touch (AUS) | Sean Tarry | A Delpech | 60 | 104 | |
| 4 | 8 | Trophy Wife | Sean Tarry | S Khumalo | 60 | 101 | |
| 5 | 6 | Vino Veritas | Gavin van Zyl | W Kennedy | 60 | 100 | |
| 6 | 9 | Winter Star | Johan Janse van Vuuren | B Fayd’Herbe | 60 | 96 | |
| 7 | 1 | Sensible Lover (AUS) | Weiho Marwing | W Marwing | 60 | 91 | |
| 8 | 7 | London | Paul Peter | J P v’d Merwe | 60 | 78 | |
| 9 | 5 | Intergalactic | Sean Tarry | K Zechner | 57.5 | 91 |
