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From SAhorseracing.com comes the following:
WOODLAND CITY IMPRESSIVE IN SWALLOW STAKES
The last time Woodland City ran, she was backed to odds-on, well beaten and heralded the start of a difficult period for the Geoff Woodruff stable. This time around, she may have well signalled a return to form for the champion trainer as she stormed home to win most impressively in the listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein this afternoon.
Heavily backed again, the daughter of Al Mufti was always up with the early pace, racing in third place as Evening Attire, defying her burden of 62kg, set a strong early gallop from Lady Red. Captain Spartha tracked this trio ahead of Angel Flight and Little Miss Magic, with the fancied Run Angel Run some way off them towards the rear.
Evening Attire continued to roll passing the 400m as Lady Red started to press her and Mark Khan started to wind Woodland City up for her run. Nothing much was kicking on from behind and it became clear that these three would be left to fight out the finish. There wasn't much to fight about, though, once Woodland City hit the front inside the last 200m and she stretched out to win authoritatively.
Evening Attire ran a blinder in second place and while she had no chance with the winner , this was a meritorious performance under her huge weight. Full marks also to Lady Red who hung on to secure third place in what was by the far the most serious test of her career so far. She and fourth-placed Captain Spartha should be winning soon against less demanding opposition.
As for the winner, this was much more in keeping with her big reputation and it would appear that her failure last time in the Hertz Fillies Mile was simply due to her failing to stay. Her connections can look forward to bigger things to come as the season progresses, as she won with a ton in hand and her performance was all the more impressive under 58kg.
Jockey Khan revealed after the race that he had not expected his mount to be fully fit as her preparation was interrupted by rain but she had now come out and beaten some of the best fillies around.
Trainer Woodruff was also delighted with her performance and he said that he had expected her to be be better over further as she was a full sister to Woodland Melody whom he had also trained and had been best over a mile and further. However, with hindsight, he felt it might have been a mistake to tackle the Fillies Mile as Woodland City looked a much better sprinter and she would now focus on the shorter trips.
Whatever her future prospects, it was good to see Woodruff back in the winner's box after a feature race and hopefully the season is back on track for someone who is not only one of our top trainers but also one of the true gentlemen of the turf.-Mark Anthony
Swallow S (L)
Things have been tough in the professional life of Geoff Woodruff recently, but the former champion trainer is bouncing back. His stable was doubtless affected by one of the inevitable viruses that do the rounds at this time of year - especially in summer rainfall areas - but the winners are starting to flow again. Woodland City, a costly flop when tried over 1600m in late November, appreciated a drop back in distance and ran away with the Swallow S for 3yo fillies over 1160m at Turffontein (standside) on Saturday, writes Matthew Lips.
Woodland City had won the 1st 3 races of her career up to 1300m by a combined 18.5 lengths before her ill-starred attempt at a mile and was sent out a very heavily backed odds-on favourite to get back on the winning trail here. The Swallow Stakes is a handicap, and it marked the first time that Woodruff's charge contested a merit rated race, but there was always the very real possibility that the handicapper's assessment of her was much too low. Her backers certainly took that view, and they were dead right.
Woodland City was up with the speed throughout as Lady Red held a narrow lead in the early stages, with top weight Evening Attire right in the firing line against the outside rail. The others in the 8-strong field were outpaced and off the bit almost from the start. Woodland City gradually began to get into top gear coming to the 300m mark, and inside the last 200m she simply bolted clear under Mark Khan to win in resounding fashion by some three lengths from Evening Attire and Lady Red. Nothing racing from behind was ever able to get competitive, with both Angel Flight and Little Miss Magic patently finding a fast-run 1160m too short, and it was Captain Spartha who eventually finished a well beaten fourth.
Evening Attire ran a blinder in defeat. She shouldered 62kgs, conceding 4kg to a winner who could be something special, and if there is one filly in South Africa who richly deserves a first career "black type" win it is this daughter of Kahal. She has now finished second four times in Stakes races up to Gr2 level and at the very least a Listed success would be nothing more than fair reward for her efforts.
It's possible that there were reasons other than a possible lack of stamina for Woodland City's disappointing display on Summer Cup day, because it was at about that time that things were starting to go a bit pear-shaped in her stable, but after the Swallow Stakes her trainer pretty much intimated that she will be kept to shorter distances, at least for the time being. At first glance, you might think that Woodland City is bred to want every inch of a mile, and more. A daughter of Al Mufti, she is out of a Fort Wood half sister to 3200m Gr 1 Gold Cup winner Colonial Girl and to milers Lady Firelli and Pure Platinum. However, her dam Woodland Lady recorded her sole career success over 1300m, and her UK-bred grandam Lady Firebird was a sprinter. On top of it all, it is hardly unknown for Al Mufti to sire sprinters from what might appear to be a stout female line. Remember Al Nitak?
Bred at Ascot Stud, Woodland City was a R350.000 purchase three lots from the end of the 2005 National Yearling Sale. Her four wins from five starts have brought in stakes of R214 375, and she certainly looks an intriguing prospect for 2007. The Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville in the winter could be on the agenda, now that Woodland City has been categorised as a speed horse.
Woodland City was a decisive winner of the Banyana Handicap while carrying tons of weight. |
From SAhorseracing.com:
RACE 5: BANYANA HANDICAP (SAND) 1000M
Rosinante (Matchett) responded smartly. Woodland City (Woodruff) and Evening Attire (Lyle Anderson) were in the firing line. Lady Red (Stenger) and Blue Zone (Spies) were after them by three lengths as the leader set a top pace. Rosinante was two lengths clear at the 400m mark as she was going well but Woodland City looked to be going one better. Rosinante was still running well up front by a length at the 200m pole but Woodland City had more in hand as she won going away to win easily to remain unbeaten on sand. Rosinante was second in front of Copper Jet (Buddy Maroun). Woodland City is by Al Mufti out of a Fort Wood mare, Woodland Lady. Trainer: Geoff Woodruff. Breeder: Ascot Stud. Owner: Mr Y Khan.
Race 5 - R110K - BANYANA HANDICAP
Open for Fillies & Mares - 1000m
No Horse Jockey Al/Bl Kg Dr Fin Dist Time OP SP
2 WOODLAND CITY Mark Khan A - 61.5 7 1 0.00 58.39 18-10 14-10F
4 ROSINANTE R Simons A B 52.0 3 2 2.50 58.84 5-1 6-1
7 COPPER JET G Figueroa A B 52.0 4 3 3.00 58.93 7-2 4-1
5 BLUE ZONE F Naude A B 52.0 1 4 5.25 59.34 10-1 10-1
8 SUMMER PROSPECT B Smith A - 52.0 8 5 5.75 59.43 5-1 6-1
1 EVENING ATTIRE S Mtshali A - 62.0 6 6 6.25 59.52 7-2 8-1
3 LADY RED K Derere A - 54.5 5 7 6.30 59.53 10-1 8-1
9 WINTER PARADE J Jago A - 52.0 2 8 9.75 60.18 25-1 40-1
6 WOELFIN Scratched
RACE 6: GRADUATION PLATE Fillies & Mares 1300M
Carry On Katie (Charles Laird) was quick to break the line. Woodland City (Woodruff) and Jive (Lerena) were up there. Sleek Ice (Kirsten) and Uptown Girl (Soma) were in behind them. Woodland City breezed past at the 400m pole and from here she was a racing certainty. She was five lengths clear at the 200m mark. She won with much authority. She will win many more races and has bigger fish to fry. Second was Sleek Ice and then came Jive. Woodland City is by Al Mufti out of a Fort Wood Mare Woodland lady. Trainer: Geoff Woodruff. Breeder: Ascot Stud.
Race 6 - R70K - PSL SOCCER 6 GRADUATION PLATE
Maidens,1 & 2 time winners f & m - 1300m
No Horse Jockey Al/Bl Kg Dr Fin Dist Time OP SP
3 WOODLAND CITY Mark Khan A - 56.0 3 1 0.00 77.77 12-10 1-1F
8 SLEEK ICE L Africa A - 53.0 2 2 8.75 79.40 14-1 25-1
6 JIVE D Habib A - 55.0 4 3 9.00 79.45 33-1 33-1
9 BIRDIE Dv Habib A B 53.0 5 4 9.50 79.54 33-1 33-1
10 ORIENTAL GOLD S Swanepol A B 53.0 8 5 11.75 79.97 66-1 66-1
2 CARRY ON KATIE A Marcus A - 56.0 6 6 14.75 80.56 12-10 15-10
4 CAREFUL LANDING F Naude A - 55.0 7 7 15.25 80.65 9-2 6-1
1 UPTOWN GIRL C Little A - 58.0 1 8 16.50 80.90 14-1 8-1
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