IDITA CAN SHINE

Idita gets her chance to shine on Friday in the Racehorse Owners Association Fillies Guineas Plate at the Fairview Polytrack, writes Henk Steenkamp.

She is the favourite to win this race for three-year-old fillies over 1400m, race sixth on the card at 15:25.

Louie Mxothwa will be in the saddle for the champion stable of trainer Gavin Smith. Idita will jump from pole position and should be hard to peg back.

Last season Idita showed what she is capable off when she placed in two Listed events – second in the Lady’s Slipper Stakes and third in the East Cape Fillies Nursery.

The winner of both these races, Luna Halo (Alan Greeff), runs in the R400 000 Western Cape Fillies Championship at Kenilworth in Cape Town on Saturday. and her absence gives Idita a huge opportunity for a second career win.

The improving Public Benefit (Kelly Mitchley) looks like a danger to the favourite in the small field of seven runners. She does seem to prefer further than 1400m though.

Others to consider are the Greeff-trained fillies Joy And Peace and Back For More. Both have been disappointing lately, especially Joy And Peace, but can be in the mix if bouncing back to their best.

Greeff can start the meeting on a winning note with the three-year-old filly Burn Baby Burn in the first race, which gets the Bipot underway at 12:30.

If you don’t want to banker in the first leg of the Bipot, More Than A Dream (Sharon Kotzen) is one to consider.

The Place Accumulator starts with the second race at 13:05 and race three is the first leg of the Pick Six, off at 13:40.

Idita could be a banker and Mia Regina (Greeff, race 7) can also be considered. The Pomodoro filly is having her second start on the Poly and is now better off at the weights to turn the tables on Angelsea (Montana Turner).

Find our selections on race day at Henk Se Wenk.