ILHA Bela, the second foal of 2005 Summer Cup winner Ilha Da Vitoria, strode to a 3.25 length debut win in a 1450m contest for two-year-olds at Turffontein’s inside track last week.

Ilha Bela, easy and impressive. (JC Photos).

Racing in the hands of Anthony Delpech, Mary Slack’s filly promised more to come and she brought smiles to her connections and supporters.

Diane de Kock, who showed Ilha Bela the ropes before she joined the main yard, commented:  “She bears a good resemblance to her mother, she is small and has the same grey coat, unlike Ilha Da Vitoria’s first fioal, Ilha Grande, who is bigger and has a darker, brown coat.

“Ilha Bela is just as cheeky as her dam too. I remember a day when Ilha Da Vitoria was running around  at White Hills Farm when she was recovering from colic. Mike and I were standing near the track. Whenever she came close she kicked out at us before running on, as if to show she was the boss.  She gave Mike a lot of cheek, especially, and he was always chuckling at her naughtiness.”

Spy Glass: Good staying potential. (JC Photos).

Spy Glass stayed on well in a merit rated handicap over 1800m, drawing away for a 4.25-length win on the same day. He’s by Fort Wood from a Sportsworld mare, looks a progressive stayer in the making and could well prove to be a good investment for a potential buyer at a dispersal sale of horses owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and others, to be held at Clairwood this week.

Sheikh Mohammed’s filly Salsabeel, by Elusive Quality, ran on steadily to win a 1300m race at Greyville on Friday evening.  This was her second win from four starts and Mike said: “She impressed me tonight and she’ll win more.” Salsabeel looks effective around the bend and is one to keep an eye on.

Salsabeel holds off her challengers to win under apprentice Keagan De Melo. (Gold Circle).