Jack Milner: Trainer Dorrie Sham makes a foray to KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday when she sends three runners to Greyville to race on the Polytrack.
As she previously trained in Port Elizabeth, which also has a Polytrack, Sham must have a decent inkling of which horses will suit that surface.
They have the form to win their respective races and to help them in that regard, she has engaged Anton Marcus to ride all three.
She kicks off with Southern Cape in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1000m. This daughter of Flower Alley has run twice for a second and a third at Turffontein. This will be her first run around the turn, but she jumps from barrier No 1 and has Marcus to guide her.
The only real danger looks to be Weiho Marwing’s runner, Gin And Tonic, who actually finished 0.75 length ahead of Southern Cape in the race won by Arctic Skyline. It could come down to which filly adapts better to the Polytrack.
Sham’s best on the day could be Zodiac Princess in Race 3, a Maiden plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, although this will be her 19th start without a victory.
Perusing her form makes one wonder how that is possible. As a juvenile she finished third to Mill Queen and followed up with a one length second to Summer Pudding in July 2019. She has placed in 10 of her 18 starts and hopefully the Polytrack will finally see her in the No 1 box.
She also saddles Sonny Quinn in Race 2, but this looks quite competitive. The value could lie with English Princess who is trained by Louis Goosen and will be ridden by Sean Veale, even though she will be taking on the colts.