Cape Town pair dominate betting for Empress Club

Jack Milner

There is a strong Western Cape presence in this year’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 16 April.

Candice Bass-Robinson has brought up two runners – Zarina and Chat Ching – and both have already had a warm-up run at the track. In fact, Zarina was viewed by many as an unlucky loser when finishing a 1.25-length third behind Sentbydestiny in a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m.

Chat Ching finished eighth in that race, beaten 4.25 lengths.

Also in town is Princess Calla who has some excellent form in both Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal and she is currently under the care of Ashley Fortune at the Vaal. This four-year-old daughter of Flower Alley has placed in seven Grade 1 races but has yet to win one.

Her closest effort came in the Garden Province Stakes over 1600m at Greyville where she was touched off by Zarina. However, most of them were behind Captain’s Ransom and the good news for all these fillies is that Justin Snaith’s charge will not be in action in this event.

As a result, it comes as no surprise to see Princess Calla top of the bookmakers’ boards at 5-2 with Zarina in second spot on offer at 33-10.

Mike de Kock has entered versatile filly Sparkling Water who has won over distances from 1450m to 2800m. She had a great warm-up run in the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes when beaten just 0.35 lengths into third behind Second Base. She is quite capable over 1600m and she is on offer at 9-1.

It is interesting to note that four women trainers have entered runners.

Other than Bass-Robinson and Fortune, KZN-based Wendy Whitehead has nominated Mount Laurel while Candice Dawson has very capable Sentbydestiny and Pretty Betty.

Gavin van Zyl has entered She’s A Keeper, Sean Tarry has Under Your Spell and Marigold Hotel, while Paul Peter has nominated three-year-old Sprinkles, who found Rain In Holland too good in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Grade
1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

The final field will be announced at a function in Joburg on Monday 11 April, when the draws for barrier positions will be made.

Opening betting:

5-2 Princess Calla

33-10 Zarina

9-1 Sparkling Water, Under Your Spell

10-1 She's A Keeper

12-1 Sprinkles, Supreme Quest

14-1 Chat Ching, Sentbydestiny

15-1 Bold Fortune

20-1 Mount Laurel

25-1 Celestial Love, Bon Vivant

33-1 Marigold Hotel

35-1 Rouge Allure, Pin Up

40-1 Pretty Betty