MRS GERIATRIX

Maybe PeterD from a breeding perspective and Naresh from a historical perspective can help?

Why run MRS GERIATRIX on Saturday? She is clearly the best 2yr old filly in South Africa and unbeaten, won maiden then GR3, GR2 and GR1.

Don't get me wrong, I think she can win easily and I want her to, however, in my opinion she has had a hard season, all things considered. There are numerous examples, Maharanee & Sweet Pepper just to mention two, that show how this race can be the undoing of a GR1 winner at Scottsville.

I have long said that there should be a competition & prizemoney for horses winning more than one of the following races in a season;

Alan Robertson GR1 (1200m)
Nursery / Golden Slipper G2 (1160m/1400m)
Thekwini Fillies GR1 (1600m)

Without the above on offer, surely MRS GERIATRIX is already worth her weight in gold to breeders and I don't see the logic of any more races this season. If she goes on to win the Golden Slipper and Thekwini Fillies, which I secretly hope she does now, then I am sure this will be the first time in history? Maybe Hollywood should offer R1 000 000 for the first horse to pull off the trebble?

The above opinion would apply to LUCKY LAD as well.

In recent years Tarry has won this race with Celtic Sea and For The Lads. Carry On Alice ran off the board though. He also has a good record in the colts and geldings version, with Gold Oynx Purple Diamond, could be others as well.

As for the bonus.

Fellow posters, Elvis and Frodo, owned a horse, Asylum Seeker. She won the SA Fillies Nursery, the race on July Day and was in line for a bouns if it had won the final leg at Clairwood Park. It ran 5th from a wide draw and it was ridden in all three legs by an apprentice, Devin Habib.

.....maybe my 2cents worth.....historically that Scottsville feature has in the past stinted some better 2 yr olds and was said to be a hard race and those horses that have featured hardly ever eclipsed those efforts especially when run too close after then....and if my memory serves me TS you had a piece of a filly that placed there and thereafter battled with Smith in PE ........Nothing wrong with Mrs G's ped and a bold move for the breeder to send his mare to the top stallion.....but for little financial reward as ZAR200K is less than break even for such a service..:ohmy: ....however the diminutive filly is already worth a lot more than what she was purchased for.... and when auctioned for stud will give the members of the all girls club an additional bonus....

Correct Muhti, I had Zeeno that won the Gold Medallion and a share in Fairy Queen that finished a short head second in the Alan Robertson.

Zeeno ran 5th in the Golden Horseshoe when it was still a GR1 and FAIRY QUEEN only won 1 race after that before she was retired to Ashley Parker's farm where she has foaled some winners.

I love the MRS GERIATRIX story, from Clifton Stud to the group of ladies that own her and wish them all the best.

Not many quick 2yo's train on, so maybe to the well again?

Bob Brogan wrote:

Not many quick 2yo's train on, so maybe to the well again?

Under your spell - same trainer definitely trained on but I agree they usually dont.

Corne Spies calls his 3yo's geriatrics

I would agree that she has nothing left to prove this season, and is a shoo in for Equus 2yo filly. She is by Vercingetorix out of a Kahal mare, so should have no trouble getting a mile. This 1400m will be a doddle and she is a banker.
She has only had 4 runs, and so if she is well, it makes perfect sense for the connections to have the fun and profit of this race. She cracked a nice draw, and it will be a bonus to show her the Greyville track now. Tarry is too good a trainer to run her if there was any sign of her needing a break.
The CT 2yo fillies have started earlier in the season and have had a tougher season than she if they ran in all 3 legs of the Cape juvenile series, where they beat the boys.

We were in a similar position with Princess Victoria, although back then the Slipper was a gr1, and she won both the Alan Robertson and the Slipper. She would have run in the Thekweni as well, but had cracked a hoof when losing a shoe, so we played it safe and did not run there. Her regular jockey, Andrew Fortune was keen for her to run, and had no doubt that she would have won all three races.
She then went on as a 3yo to win the CT Fillies Guineas, and run 3rd in the Colts Guineas ( finishing in front of Gimmethegreenlight which won the Queens Plate at his next start).
Thereafter she also won the Garden Province beating the year older Ebony Flyer.

I’m glad that the filly that I bred, Golden Tatjana, is in the Horseshoe, as she has more chance of beating the boys (in the absence of Lucky Lad) than of turning the tables on Mrs G.

banker

Hearing horse has been scratched , can anyone confirm ?

I have not seen anything official Craig?

I would say that the horse is worthy of a short documentary to promote racing with the ladies syndication etc


However I also think the second fav is worth including in exotics.

naresh wrote:

In recent years Tarry has won this race with Celtic Sea and For The Lads. Carry On Alice ran off the board though. He also has a good record in the colts and geldings version, with Gold Oynx Purple Diamond, could be others as well.

As for the bonus.

Fellow posters, Elvis and Frodo, owned a horse, Asylum Seeker. She won the SA Fillies Nursery, the race on July Day and was in line for a bouns if it had won the final leg at Clairwood Park. It ran 5th from a wide draw and it was ridden in all three legs by an apprentice, Devin Habib.

Thanks for the memory Naresh - however don't think that Devin was an apprentice at that stage; in addition to being drawn widest of all at Clairwood, she was also impeded around the turn (lost a length or two and pushed wide) by a filly of Jooste's (Brigit's Academy - Aussie import ?) trained by Charles Laird (if memory serves) - those were the days

naresh wrote:

In recent years Tarry has won this race with Celtic Sea and For The Lads. Carry On Alice ran off the board though. He also has a good record in the colts and geldings version, with Gold Oynx Purple Diamond, could be others as well.

As for the bonus.

Fellow posters, Elvis and Frodo, owned a horse, Asylum Seeker. She won the SA Fillies Nursery, the race on July Day and was in line for a bouns if it had won the final leg at Clairwood Park. It ran 5th from a wide draw and it was ridden in all three legs by an apprentice, Devin Habib.

Brings back memories Naresh - 2006 - there was a MILLION bonus on offer to win all 3 legs..all of a sudden we were FAVOURITE & EVERY jockey in town wanted to ride her.... we stuck with apprentice Devin....... It was a rough race, we were drawn in the bush@ 15 I think, jockey next to us fell OFF.... we finished 5th..... Glory - NOT TO BE !