The Cheveley Stud bred Snowdance stamped herself a potentially exceptional filly when storming home to win Saturday’s G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship by four and a quarter lengths, leaving the previously unbeaten Cape champion Magical Wonderland struggling in her wake. Trained by Justin Snaith, and steered to a front running victory by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, Snowdance pulled well clear to leave Magical Wonderland in second, and Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Rose In Bloom a further 1.75 lengths away in third place.
Having now won two of just three outings, Snowdance looks a leading contender for the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas later this year. Snowdance, who is owned by Drakenstein Stud and Jack Mitchell, was a R2 000 000 purchase from the 2016 National Yearling Sale. A facile winner on debut (when again beating Rose In Bloom), Snowdance had been second on her first race back in nine months last time out. She is yet another top-class filly sired by the late champion sire Captain Al, and is a full-sister to Listed Laisserfaire Stakes/Lady’s Pendant winner Victorian Secret.
The regally bred Snowdance is out of G3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Spring Lilac, herself a half-sister to Equus Champions Bela-Bela and Rabiya. Friday saw the Moutonshoek bred Mr O’Neill take top honours in the Listed Jonsson Workwear Michaelmas Handicap at Greyville, with the son of Mambo In Seattle saluting by half a length for trainer Dean Kannemeyer, champion jockey Anthony Delpech and owners Messrs Botis, Gerber, Phillips, Citron, Eisele, van der Westerhuizen, and Mrs Eisele.
