FOUR-year-old filly, Phedra, will be the topic of discussion at various important meetings in the very near future.
She delivered a brilliant performance last Friday at Fairview when she won the Milkwood Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 000m.
The ultra-consistent and very speedy Phedra quickened beautifully in the short straight under a fine ride by her regular jockey, Louie Mxothwa.
It was her seventh career victory, but the most important after just missing out in two other big races earlier in the season.
Phedra was third in the Lady’s Pendant in February, and then second in the Eastern Cape Sprint Cup in March.
This time she made sure of victory for her trainer, Sharon Kotzen, and the partners involved in her ownership.
Kotzen, third on the trainers’ log in the province, did an outstanding job to keep Phedra performing so well over a long period.
The connections of Phedra enjoyed the victory, but they will soon be involved in earnest discussions about her future.
“She is a special filly,” said Kotzen and explained that it will become very difficult to find suitable races for next season.
This means the first big discussion will be about Phedra’s future. Will she continue racing or will she be retired to breed?
“As a trainer I would love to see her continue racing, but she has probably earned her spot at stud,” Kotzen explained the topic of discussions.
The other big discussion around Phedra will be when the panel of judges meet in two months’ time to name the various champions of the East Cape season.
Phedra has become a huge contender for top honours in two categories after her fine performance.
She will be competing with Santa Therese, Integrity, Red Berry and her stablemate, And We Danced, to be crowned the Champion Older Filly/Mare.
The other category in which Phedra’s name will come up, is that of Champion Sprinter.
The Fairview racing fans will miss this filly if the decision is made to retire her to stud. She is poetry in motion down the Fairview straight, past the Grand Stand on her way to victory.
Her consistency made her a favourite amongst the punters, who knew they would get a run for their money when they include Phedra in their bets.
There are two months left in the current season, and still plenty of action coming up at Fairview.
This Friday it is time for the two-year-old fillies to shine when the R150 000 Lady’s Slipper Stakes over 1 400m is the main event.
