There is little doubt that Joy And Peace is one of the best fillies currently in action in the Eastern Cape, especially over middle distances.
Perhaps one can argue that up to 1400m both Luna Halo and three-year-old filly Splicethemainbrace might be slightly better but as they go up in distance, it is all about Joy And Peace.
All three are trained by Alan Greeff so it gives him a trio of very good weapons in feature races for fillies in races at Fairview.
Joy And Peace has been quite a revelation since winning on debut but then found Luna Halo too good in sprints. She did win race over 1400m but it was only when Greeff opted to run her in the Oaks Plate over 1800m that she really displayed her talent.
After putting that race to bed she went on to win the Listed East Cape Oaks over 2000m, then gave the colts a hiding in the Listed East Cape Derby over 2400m, defeated a field of fillies and mares in the Non-Black Type Walmer Handicap over 1800m and finally she romped to a 2.75-length victory in the Listed Jockey Club Stakes over 2000m to give her five wins on the trot.
Some of those wins were on the turf while other were on the Polytrack – it made no difference as this four-year-old daughter of Master Of My Fate was equally comfortable on both surfaces.
So, it came as no surprise when bookmakers priced her up as favourite to win the Listed Algoa Cup over 2000m. The fact that it was against the colts was not an issue; the problem is that she was allotted top weight and had to give clumps of weight to some well-performed older males and that eventually caught her out.
In the end she finished fourth, beaten just 2.25 lengths by Firealley, which was no disgrace.
She probably found 1600m a touch short in her next start when beaten 3.50 lengths by Red Sash, giving her 5kg.
However, on Friday Joy And Peace will line up in Race 2, a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 2000m on the turf, and despite carrying top weight she will be very hard to beat,
She does come in as the best weighted runner but only by 0.5kg. Nevertheless, her record over the distance is outstanding with two wins and that fourth in the Algoa Cup from three runs.
Richard Fourie is back in the irons, and he has ridden her to six of her seven victories.
She looks a stand-out bet and is a banker in all of the exotics.
Clive Robinson
