Carla The Rebel, seen here with Lance Pagel in the irons, runs off the highest rating in the Champion Fillies Stakes, but can she win?

Glenwood Racing fields six of the eight runners in the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, including Carla The Rebel, winner of the 1600m ZRP Fillies Charity Stakes on October 23.

Scarlett Ice (second in the Charity Stakes) and Ladies First, also from the Terzi yard, step out again, and will be joined by stable mates Belle Epoque,  Betula Uber and Sky.

Bridget Stidolph is taking on this formidable line-up with Dictate and La Carmelita, both bred to stay.  Dictate, by Silvano (GER) out of a Model Man mare, has not previously raced at Borrowdale, but won a 1950m Maiden Plate at Scottsville on June 22.  The four-year-old will jump from the Number Three stall on Sunday and Apprentice Mathew Thackeray takes the ride.

La Carmelita, by Ideal World (USA), debuted at Borrowdale at the last race meeting, running second to Standpoint in the 2000m MR 65 Handicap.  She won a 1400m Maiden Plate at Greyville in April,  is drawn 7 on Sunday and stable jockey Fanie Chambers will be in the irons.

Silvano (GER) and Ideal World (USA) are also represented within the Terzi string.  Ladies First is by the German sire out of an Al Mufti (USA) mare and this four-year-old won at Borrowdale over 1600m and 1700m.  She finished 4.75 lengths behind Duffi’s Call in the 2000m Zimbabwe Oaks when Sunday’s runner, Betula Uber, was second (1.75 lengths back), with Belle Epoque and Sky not really shaping.

At the last Borrowdale Park meeting the penetrometer reading was 13 and over the weekend there was a soaking rain with more expected.  At the very least the sting will be out of the ground, and a marked change in the going has to be considered.  Should there be a deluge bear in mind that Ladies First has won in soft conditions.  Collen Storey will be aboard and Ladies First has drawn 5.

Although Betula Uber, the daughter of Ideal World (USA), is only a one time winner over 1600m, she was second to Duffi’s Call in the Oaks, and second to 2015 Horse Of The Year Mathematician in the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby. The race she won, at two years, was the Breeders Fillies Mile. At the last meeting Betula Uber had a pipe opener, finishing third to El Gallo over 1200m.  Keagan de Melo rides on Sunday, the four-year-old filly is drawn 2, and over ground one has to fancy her chances.

 Betula Uber, with Wes Marwing up, won the Breeders Fillies Mile

Three-time winner, Belle Epoque, by Seventh Rock (AUS) out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare, is going for a hat-trick, having won her last two starts over 1100m and 1200m. She has done most of her racing over shorter trips but finished fifth in the Oaks. Juan Paul van der Merwe will ride this filly and she is drawn 1.

Wesley Marwing is on  Scarlett Ice and Brendon McNaughton will be mounted on Sky. Scarlett Ice and Carla The Rebel are the only five-year-olds in this race where Scarlett Ice will take on the four-year-olds at level weights.  Carla The Rebel, a winner of five races, carries an extra 2kgs, and Sherman Brown has been engaged to ride her.

By Black Minnaloushe (USA) Scarlett Ice won her first two starts at Borrowdale, over 1600 and 1700m.  She was second to Perfect Grace over 1800m in May, and is usually thereabouts.  In the recent ZRP Charity Fillies Stakes Scarlett Ice ran second to Carla The Rebel at level weights.  When in receipt of 2kgs she could turn the tables.

As a rule I wouldn’t get too excited about anything featuring only two stables but this seems an open race, and a likely change in the going makes it more interesting. Presumably both Stidolph runners are in it to win it, but Gokhan Terzi has a strong hand here.  Unfortunately, at this stage, I can’t decide which of his runners to go with.

Perhaps it is significant that JP is riding Belle Epoque… he has partnered her in two of her three victories.

The first race on Sunday is due off at 13.05 and the Champion Fillies Stakes takes place at 16.00.