Sugar Pie sweet on Polytrack
Greyville stages its first Polytrack meeting today and although untested on this surface the Mike de Kock-trained Sugar Pie looks the one to be with in Race 5, MR 77 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.
This daughter of Kildonan has got better with each start and although she only just won her last race by a short head she never really looked in danger of losing. The distance of that win clearly flatters runner-up Finding Neverland. To her credit Finding Neverland did run well subsequently so the form is clearly holding up.
A high draw of stall No 9 is not ideal for Sugar Pie and she may have to race wide, but her ability to quicken is not in doubt and she looks heading for higher than this lowly handicap. Jockey Anthony Delpech has ridden her in last three starts so will know when to push her button.
Sounds Positive, from the Frank Robinson yard, has done well in a higher grade than this and has been saddled with top weight. Jumping from pole position should give Sounds Positive the run of the race and this shorter trip should suit her.
Night Dancer had Sugar Pie six lengths behind her when Sugar Pie was making her debut back in November last year but Sugar Pie has improved somewhat since then, so maybe one cannot read too much into that bare form. Her form has been a bit patchy since but she is well drawn and has the bang in form S’manga Khumalo aboard.
It would be a bit of a shock if anything else were to pop up and win it although Lemonade River, Sakania and Sutherfeni have ability and could earn stake cheques.
