The presence of classy two-year-old filly Golden Palm seems to have scared away much of the opposition, with only six runners lining up in Race 7, Lady’s Slipper (Listed), over 1400m at Fairview on Friday.
With rain around last Friday’s meeting was switched to the Polytrack, and hopefuly that won’t be the case this time.
The Master Of My Fate filly is clearly progressive, having won her last two starts. Golden Palm has only had three starts so far and showed promise with a third-place finish on debut behind her unbeaten stable companion, Anotherdanceforme, in February.
The two-year-old filly reappeared a couple of weeks later – this time with Richard Fourie in the irons – and was heavily backed. She won by 5.50 lengths.
Golden Palm then made a rare raid to Gauteng for trainer Alan Greeff, where she proved too good for some decent fillies, winning by 2.20 lengths. She now tries 1400m for the first time, but that should not pose a problem, and she looks hard to oppose.
She is likely to raid Group 1 races soon, and this looks a nice stepping stone for her.
If there are to be two fillies who can test her, then Barolo and Royal City Girl are the most likely challengers in the field. Barolo was narrowly beaten in her first two starts but was a wide-margin winner last time out. Royal City Girl beat Barolo when they met on 11 April and does seem to have talent.
Earlier on the card, the Fourie-Greeff combination can also win Race 2, a maiden plate over 1600m, with Golden Grey.
This Danon Platina gelding has proven a costly horse to follow and is not an easy ride. However, the four-year-old has looked unlucky not to win in his two starts at this centre and could finally get the job done this Friday.
Clive Robinson
