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April 28, 2007


SALLY BOWLES ROARS HOME TO NAB GRADE 2 KZN FILLIES GUINEAS,
ANTON MARCUS EXHORTS FILLY TO REVERSE NARROW LOSSES,
TRAINER BRUSS ON SUPER-HOT STREAK WITH TEAM VALOR STOCK



Sally Bowles gets up at last moment to win G2 KZN Fillies Guineas.
Sally Bowles unleashed a powerful late move to collar and pass second favorite Royal Fantasy to score a head victory in the Grade 2 Kwa Zulu Natal Fillies Guineas at Greyville today in Durban, South Africa.

Sent off at odds of more than 14 to 1, Sally Bowles provided trainer Neil Bruss within his second major upset in a week, as last Sunday he fashioned a 40 to 1 shock with Team Valor and Anant Singh's Stately in the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes at Scottsville.

Sally Bowles drew the number 1 post position, which embued trainer Bruss with confidence, which spilled over to rider Anton Marcus, who rated his mount about 5 lengths off what appeared to be a fast pace.

With about 300 meters remaining in the one-mile grass race, Royal Fantasy looked headed for victory, as the favorite Sun Classique was too far back and not making up ground fast enough.

At the furlong grounds, Royal Fantasy had about a 2 1/2-length advantage over Sally Bowles. Anton Marcus asked the Team Valor colorbearer for her best inside the eighth pole and the tall daughter of London News responded, lifting in the final 60 yards to reach and pass the 9 to 5 second choice.

Final time of 1:36.95 was .45 second slower than Dynamite Mike needed a race later to win the colts and geldings' version of the Natal Guineas.

Trainer Bruss originally had hoped to see Sally Bowles on or near the lead in order to take advantage of her good draw, but the conditioner said "They went a cracking pace and she does not have that early toe she showed us last year. Marcus told me after the race that the mile is now on the sharp side for the filly, so we will be looking to stretch her out a bit."

Sally Bowles was a precocious 2-year-old last season. She romped by nearly 6 lengths in her debut, then lost photo finishes for both the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship and the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes.


Photo finish camera shows Sally Bowles flying up late to earn victory in waning moments of KZN Fillies Guineas.
The extra-tall bay filly took quite awhile to regain her fitness and was a late starter at three. She was rusty in a sprint comeback and ran better when a decent enough fourth in a Grade 3 prep for the Guineas.

"She's just now rounding into form," insists Bruss, who raised more than a few eyebrows when he entered her for the Durban July, one of the most prestigious events on the South African calendar.

Barry Irwin bought 4 yearling fillies two years ago when he attended his first National Yearling Sale and today's Guineas winner at $24,000 was the cheapest of the lot. Sally Bowles is now a Grade 2 winner. Little Miss Magic, a $58,000 buy, won the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes. Whistledownthewind and Elegant Aspen are both winners with a chance to flesh out the portfolio by getting black type of their own.

From SAhorseracing.com:
    SALLY BOWLES THEM OVER IN THE GUINEAS

    There were some bemused looks when Sally Bowles was entered for the Vodacom Durban July, but the filly made her detractors eat humble pie when she flew up late to clinch the Gr 2 KZN Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Greyville today.


    Trainer Neil and Dee Bruss escort Team Valor's brilliant filly Sally Bowles
    to winner's enclosure following exciting run in Fillies Guineas.
    Neil Bruss's filly was pretty anonymous in the early stages as Fender Bender and Jewel of Jwaneng disputed the early lead. Outcome was prominent in third with favourite Royal Fantasy perfectly placed in fourth ahead of Jalantra and Surabi. Among the more fancied runners, Ethereal Lady raced in the final third of the field while Sun Classique, once again bedevilled by a bad draw, eventually settled at the back.

    Jewel Of Jwaneng briefly headed affairs as they turned for home but Mark Khan quickly set Royal Fantasy alight and tried to steal a march on the field. Outcome emerged as the initial danger and for a while it looked as if she might overhaul the favourite, but even as her challenge petered out, Sally Bowles burst out of the pack. It became a case of whether the line would come in time for Royal Fantasy, as Sally Bowles was finishing the better of the two and, responding superbly to Anton Marcus's urgings, she got up in the final stride to win by a nose.

    River Jetez confirmed that she is a filly going places with an excellent third, running on late, while Ethereal Lady also emerged with credit in fourth place, as she did not enjoy the best of luck from a bad draw.

    The disappointment of the race was Sun Classique, who was forced to drop out early, and never got into the race. It's too early to say she has gone off the boil, but she has not looked the same horse that she did down in Cape Town and there are a few questions to be answered at the moment.

    Turning to the first two, Sally Bowles elicited a few unkind comments when entered for the July and while that still looks a very optimistic goal, the fact remains that she has won a prestigious race fair and square and proved she is up there with the best of her age group. Her effort is not such a huge surprise if one goes back to her juvenile form, where she showed definite promise before losing her way, and her connections have every reason to expect more good performances to follow.

    Royal Fantasy is finally delivering on her promise of last season and she didn't do much wrong here. Jockey Khan had to go early on her, as she is not the type to quicken from behind, and she just got run down by a very useful opponent on the day.