Tarry has the heart

Fillies Handicaps are often seen as a scourge for many bettors but there are times when the fillies can be more reliable than their male counterparts.

On paper Race 5 at the Vaal today, a FM 90 Handicap over 1400m, looks wide open with many of the runners having winning chances, but on closer scrutiny it might not be all that bad. For a start, champion trainer Sean Tarry continues to churn out winners and he saddles a decent sort in Seventh Heart.

The daughter of Seventh Rock has a lifetime record of seven runs, three wins and two places. But what is particularly significant is that all three wins have been at the Vaal, and she is two for two over this 1400m.

She did not seem to see out 1600m in the Listed Syringa Handicap in May last year and after her failure in that race, was out of action until 29 December. She finished unplaced, although just 3.85 lengths behind Kapellmeister, and in her next start, over 1400m at Turffontein, was too far back and unable to make up all the ground on the winner, Kwinta, but finished a 2.10-length third.

Now, in her third run after a layoff, she is back at her favourite course and with S’manga Khumalo in the irons, Seventh Heart is the runner to beat.

Her main threat could come from Miss Magical, who is a lightly raced five-year-old. She made her debut in November 2013 and notched up her first victory at the fourth attempt, beating Rebel Icon by 4,25 lengths over 1400m at Turffontein. She followed that up with another victory, this time over Penny Fare in a 1450m affair on the Inside track at Turffontein. That was in April 2014 and something must have gone awry because we did not see her again until 3 December last year.

Not surprisingly she went off at 14-1, again over 1450m on the Inside track, and the daughter of Silvano easily beat Wild Dancer by one length, giving the winner 7.5kg.

Miss Magical takes a jump in class but with just 54kg to shoulder she could make it four wins in a row. JP van der Merwe takes the ride on the Mike Azzie-trained runner.

After a couple of disappointing meetings trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren got his string back on track with three winners at Turffontein on Saturday. He saddles Be Mine Tonight who is now 4.5kg better off with Seventh Heart for a 2.40-length beating on the run behind Kwinta. That brings them very close together but Tarry’s charge was finishing the better of the two and should be able to confirm that form.