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Posted 2014-11-27 23:17:43  
JAYYED LOOKS THE SMART CALL IN DINGAANS

The 3-year-olds get an opportunity to make a splash on the bumper Summer Cup card at Turffontein on Saturday, courtesy of the Investec Dingaans (Gr 2) and Bradlows/Morkels Fillies Mile (Gr 3) and they are two rather contrasting events.

The Dingaans - at the risk of tempting Fate - looks a straight battle between last season's champion juvenile, Harry's Son (pictured, orange cap), and arch-rival Jayyed who will be looking to topple him for the first time, after failing to do so in three previous meetings.

Harry's Son deserves the plaudits he has earned thus far in his short career - he contested all three Gr 1 events for 2-year-olds during the winter season and finished off with a 3-3-1 record, culminating in a narrow victory in the Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville. He was then rested for three months and made a smashing seasonal debut when trouncing Jayyed in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at this track, despite conceding him 4.5kg. Given that they now revert to level weights, that leaves Jayyed with little chance of reversing the form on paper, but a closer look shows that he actually conceded a pound to Harry's Son when that one beat him a short-head in the Premiers. More importantly, Jayyed's late flourish indicates that he is crying out for this testing mile, as he finished well from off the pace in the Graham Beck. Harry's Son is a formidable rival and is the one they all have to beat but extra furlong may just give Jayyed the advantage he needs to notch up - amazingly - his first career victory (being Gr 1 placed, he is by far the best-performed maiden in the country at present).

None of the remaining runners has the Gr 1 credentials of the two main contenders and unless there is a sudden improver lurking among them, they appear to be running for place money at best. However, Sean Tarry's Siren's Call, the only filly in the race, is worth a close look as she receives 2.5kg and her stablemate Carry On Alice showed it can be used to good effect when competing against top male opposition last season. Her form is faultless thus far, having won her first two starts easily before finishing second to champion Majmu  in the Starling Stakes. She may give the boys something to think about here.

Raise The Red, Leven Point and Front Rank may be worth including as kickers for the trifecta and quartet, although the former two have to contend with horrible draws.

The Fillies Mile is a far more open contest and cases can be made for at least half the field, but the Majmu form line may once again prove to be a key pointer. Yet to miss the placings in four starts, Smart Call ran a cracker when third to Majmu in the Starling Stakes after making a bold bid early in the straight. She kept going gamely that day despite being beaten for finishing speed and should enjoy stepping back up to this trip. The fact that Weichong Marwing takes the irons ahead of Bilateral, on whom he has already tasted Gr 1 success, also speaks volumes.

Bilateral is the highest-rated runner in the ace and has earned it after two cracking Gr 1 efforts, winning the Golden Slipper at the beginning of July and then showing that was no fluke when a respectable third in the Thekwini Stakes. The only concern is that she has not raced since the end of July and to win a race this competitive without the benefit of a prep run is a rather daunting challenge. Still, she's got the form in the book and should feature prominently in the finish.

Trainer Mike de Kock, who sends out Jayyed in the Dingaans, also has a strong chance of landing the fillies' equivalent as his pairing of Ataab and Maria Theresa come into the race with some promising form to their names. Maria Theresa was a beaten favourite last time out but she was taking on tough, older male opposition and to finish fourth behind the well-performed Eurakilon in open company was no disgrace. Back against her own age and sex, she looks a lively threat here.

Banbury is another one with sound claims. She's yet to run a bad race and, in addition to finishing fourth in the Thekwini Stakes, was touched off by Pine Princess, who has since come out and won in graded company against older fillies and mares.

Tamaanee hasn't done much wrong in three starts and stayed on for third in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup last time out. She should enjoy the extra furlong here and is another one to take serious cognisance of.

Olma has reeled off three easy wins in a row and, although up in class, looks progressive and could well rise to the task here, while Zrinski is thrown into the deep end at only her second career start, but won by eight lengths on debut, suggesting she could be anything.

Brown Sugar looks best of the rest in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive affair.



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