Black Swan Stud Busy few days ahead

A good win by Versailles, although not the strongest of fields with the best weighted filly very slow away, and perhaps not all handling the soft going.
Pleasing debut by JP 2000- the stable companion heavily backed and duly won impressively. He showed good early pace and ran on into 4th. Will no doubt come on from this and is looking for further.
Kenilworth washed out, which is a pity as Grey Princess had cracked a nice draw.
Understated was a little unlucky in being baulked and having to switch out at the 200m. Would have got a few lengths closer, but the winner was always going better.

Secret Depths runs in the 7th race at Fairview on Friday, but is drawn widest, badly in at the weights, and has not raced on the poly before, so unlikely to shine. Wait for her in a handicap on the grass.
Indigo Fields makes her debut at Scottsville on Saturday in race 2. A three parts sister to the top class Last Winter, out of Cape Fillies Guineas winner Field Flower. (Incidentally, Field Flower was the first gr 1 winner by Silvano in SA). I will be watching this one with great interest.
Super Tanaye runs in the 1st race at Turffontein on Sunday. She meets a similar line-up to last time when running third, and should go close if repeating that run here. End of Rock has not run for nearly a year, but could be the one to beat if fit and well.

Elusive Fort has got off to a good start, racking up 7 wins and 6 seconds in the first couple of weeks of the season.

After a quiet few days, we have some interesting runners this week.
On Wednesday at Kenilworth 4 runners:
*Helen’s Legend in race 2. She has come on nicely from her debut and we decided to run her in this small field rather than give her another sprint. Silver Darling looks the one to beat, but if ours is not too green, then she will relish the step up in trip.
* Elusive Tango and Veni Vidi Vicci both run in race 4. An open handicap and unfortunately ET draws badly, but has good gate speed so should still go close with a strong jockey. VVV comes back from a break, but if fit should also be in the mix.
*Grey Princess runs in the 8th and also must overcome a wide draw in a very open race. She is fit and well and should again be in the money if she can overcome the draw.
On Friday at Greyville, two runners.
* Miss Jacqueline in race 2. Hoping for an improved run- on her best form she can go close.
* Fort Dawn in race 4- needs to show a lot more.

Well done Peter,and a nice ride by Ossie:cheer:

Very good win by Grey Princess and a top ride by Ossie Noach (who also rode a perfect race earlier to score with Gillian Anne for Peter Wrensch.)
She has been hit with a 6 point raise- the problem is that she is much better in the wet, and will be in trouble off this rating in the summer.
Veni Vidi Vicci a good second place and should pick up a win soon.
Elusive Tango got his tongue over the bit and choked up in the running, so this run can be ignored. Has never happened to him before, but will now get the tongue tie.
Helen’s Legend was disappointing- on her work she should have gone a lot closer. Perhaps she just needs a bit of time to strengthen up.
Miss Jacqueline a poor ride, and should have gone a lot closer than 4th.
Fort Dawn is now off to PE.

*Drama Queen runs in the 5th race on Sunday. She has a wide draw, which is now more significant with the move to Greyville. If she were drawn well, I would be very confident of a good run, but now will need luck.

The weather has played havoc with the Cape Town racing, and the rain is not yet over.

On the farm we are still awaiting our first foals of the season, with a couple overdue. At Drakenstein, Siren’s Call has foaled a filly by Lancaster Bomber.

Elusive Fort is looking great and ready for a good season.

Next week, Montfort runs on Monday at Greyville in the 4th; JP Twothousand at the Vaal on Tuesday in the 8th and Major Winter on Thursday at Turffontein in the 5th.
Montfort much improved back on the poly last time, and should go close. JP should enjoy the step up in trip. Major Winter gets the appie allowance, but was a bit disappointing last time and needs to improve.

Montfort moderate effort. JP still looked green but stayed on well and should pick up a race soon.

Wednesday race 4 we have *Princess Anastasia ( in partnership with Maine Chance). Field has cut up to just 5 runners but still competitive. She was disappointing last time, and has been dropped 4 points. Expecting a good run.
Friday at Fairview race 8 *Encryption runs in a competitive handicap. Always in with an ew shout.
Saturday Kenilworth race 4 *Gentleman takes on a big field. Has a good draw but needs to improve to feature. Should enjoy the step up in trip.
Understated race 4 at Turffontein - battling to win his maiden but always thereabouts.
Sunday race 2 at Scottsville, Indigo Fields makes her debut after being scratched last time with a bruised foot. Hopefully the track will be ok after last week’s meeting moved due to weather.

5

Major Winter went a suicidal pace and compounded , but things started looking up after that one.
Encryption ran her usual brave race and a creditable 2nd in a strong field.
Gentleman finally woke up to what racing is all about, and also a very game 2nd when going around the bend. Should not be long in shedding his maiden now that the penny has dropped.
Understated got his maiden win and he stays all day so should pick up more races as he gets older and stronger.
Indigo Fields fair debut, although looked a little underdone and not given a hard ride so should come on a lot from this 3rd place. While not the strongest of fields, the winner stepped up from its previous and she looked to me like she will want more ground.

If the weather permits, we have runners at Durbanville on Monday. So far the amount of rain looks manageable.
*Cape Point and Exceeder both run in race 4 and I'm hoping that Cape Point can build on his recent improvement.
*Treasure Hunt comes back from a short rest and her vaccinations, and is in race 8 running the minimum trip so hopefully she can tuck in off the speed and learn to run on. This will probably be a bit too sharp for her, but if it goes according to plan she should be running on strongly at the end.

Treasure Hunt ran a useful 4th - a good effort this trip coming off her short break. Probably give her another sprint to reinforce the lessons learned here.
( A gorgeous full sister born last week)
Exceeder showed that his 2 last runs in the very heavy going can be ignored- he ran a good race and should pick up a maiden soon. Cape Point still not putting in the effort- when he does, has lots of scope for improvement.

*Vic Falls runs at Fairview in race 8- expecting a big run from her, and I think a good winning chance.
Mhlabeni runs in race 3. Steps up in trip and back on the turf so hopefully an improved run. He showed enough earlier in CT to win in PE.

*Gentleman in carded to run again on Saturday race 1 at Durbanville, and if he can repeat his run last week ( his MR is now 78) will be in the money- Full House the one to beat.
Veni Vidi Vicci runs in race 8 and he looks a lively ew chance if he can overcome his wide draw.
Super Tanaye runs in race 1 at Turffontein on Saturday- disappointing last effort and may struggle against a couple of nice 3yos.

* Grey Princess runs on Tuesday race 7 at Durbanville, and is in good form, going for the hatrick.
Versailles runs in the following race, and looks on the upgrade after facile maiden win.

On the farm , two foals so far, a filly by Canford Cliffs out of Sylvie, and a filly by Elusive Fort out of GoldandSilver.
Elusive Fort is covering enthusiastically.

The highlight of our week was a good win by Mhlabeni- as expected he enjoyed the step up in trip.
From a total of 21 foals we bred that were born in 2017, he brings the tally of winners to 14, and a further 5 have been placed.
Vic Falls returned with a pulled muscle in her hind quarter which may explain her poor run.
Gentleman’s run can be ignored. Jockey stopped riding at the 200m mark and reported he felt something amiss. 100% sound.
Veni Vidi Vicci and Versailles fair runs both 2L off the respective winners, but I was hoping for a bit more.
Super Tanaye may need to move to a weaker centre, although I would expect improvement if tried over further.
Grey Princess did nothing wrong but is now on too high a rating especially as the going firms up, and the 3yos start moving through the divisions.
Elusive Fort is doing very well so far this season, sitting 3rd on the overall sires list and getting a couple of winners every week.

Wednesday we have *Princess Anastasia in the 8th race at Greyville. Has dropped in the ratings, and I think will relish the step up in trip. Hoping that she can pick up her second win tomorrow. Sliver Maria has been priced up favourite, but we should have her held at the weights compared to when we met her in the race won by Glory Days.
*Mistress of Means and Secret Depths meet in the 7th race at Fairview on Friday and both have winning chances in an open race.
On Saturday, * Treasure Hunt runs in the 6th race at Durbanville. The trip is again a bit too short for her, but should have come on from her last run and should again be doing her best work late. Will pick up her next win soon, but probably over a bit more ground.

Princess Anastasia did not improve over the longer trip, so back to the drawing board.
The change to the poly didn’t help either Mistress of Means or Secret Depths, but both ran ok to fill the minor places.
Treasure Hunt settled nicely today in a fast run race, and ran on the final 200m. Can now step up in trip where she will be more effective.

A quiet week ahead with 3 runners:
Pharr Out in the 5th at Fairview on Monday 20th- open race.
* Miss Jacqueline in the 2nd at Greyville on Wednesday - good draw and must have a decent ew chance.
Secret Depths in the Walmer Handicap on Friday at Fairview. Open race, and is in good form in PE. Should go close on turf.

Pharr Out no show.
Miss Jacqueline they went a crawl ( 3 seconds slower than the other maiden race ) and she was out sprinted.
Secret Depths below par- perhaps too soon after previous race just a week earlier.

The very well related filly Indigo Fields runs in the 2nd race at Scottsville on Sunday. Hopefully can build on fair debut when green, and the extra 200m should suit.Anton Marcus retains the ride and she has been priced up favourite.
Elusive Tango runs in the 6th at Durbanville on Monday. Came back a bit sore last time, and hoping for a better run in a very open race.
JP Twothousand improved second run when stepping up to1500m. The 1600m on Tuesday at Vaal in race 4 should suit. He has Motown Magic and Indelible to beat, and these 3 should fill the trifecta.

A very impressive first foal for our stakes winning mare Elusive Heart, by Gold Standard, born this week.