No fewer than four Gr1 winning females are nominated for the title of Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare for the past South African season.
With two Gr1 wins under her belt, one coming against colts in the Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Flying Championship, Carry On Alice (Captain Al) looks the leading contender here.

The bay’s three wins in the season also included the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, over fellow leading Equus contender Just Sensual (Dynasty) (Bela-Bela finishing sixth), with Carry On Alice also placing in all of the Gr1 World Sports Betting Computaform Sprint, Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes and Gr2 CTS Southern Cross Stakes.

Her main rival is the flashy grey Bela-Bela (Dynasty), winner of both the Gr1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.
Bela-Bela also ran a storming third, in open company, in the 2017 Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and ended her career with a fourth in the Gr1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup.

Nightingale (Silvano) ran fourth to Bela-Bela in the Paddock Stakes before landing the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes. While the Majorca was Nightingale’s only win of the season, she put up a bold showing when dead-heating for fourth in the 2017 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July and ended the campaign with a fast finishing second in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet.

Nother Russia, the only foal produced by Equus Champion Mother Russia, made a huge impression during the season –winning three including the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Of Monaco Empress Club Stakes and Gr3 Acacia Handicap.
The filly also ran a storming third behind Deo Juvente (Trippi) and Horse of The Year Legal Eagle in the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge.