TWO Australian-bred three-year-old fillies kept the stable ticking over at the Vaal during the week.

On Tuesday, Red Pomegranate (Callan Murray) followed her Maiden win over a mile in June with another good success over the straight 1400m and Mathew de Kock commented: “Red Pomegranate is improving nicely. We had her in a mile 10 days before this race but she flipped over and had to be scratched, so the 1400m race came next and we had to drop her in trip, but she’ll be best over a mile and up.”

Red Pomegranate (middle), further will suit.

Red Pomegranate is by Nicconi from a mare by Hurricane Sky and races for Warne and Wendy Rippon and Mr and Mrs Arun Chadha, who have a few nice prospects in training with the stable.

Ektifaa broke her Maiden under Anthony Delpech on Thursday,  on her fourth visit to the track, winning over 1200m. She was expected to win sooner and now that she has broken the ice could go on to better things.

Mat said: “Ektifaa is smart filly, she was just beaten in June by Seattle Singer who ran second in the Gr1 Gold Medallion right after that and was Graded place again since.

Ektifaa, better things ahead.

“Ektifaa had her heart broken, but now that she’s won she’ll be more confident. We’ll pick a suitable next race for her and maybe she can contend a feature later in the Gauteng summer. Anthony thinks she will see out 1600m.”

Ektifaa, owned by Sheikh Hamdan, is by More Than Ready from Stella Vinia, by Redoute’s Choice.