Fisani (SAF) produced a tremendous fighting performance to land a 50/1 upset in the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on Sunday, narrowly disposing of Generous Anna (AUS) with Alderry (SAF) and Here To Win (BRZ) next home.

There was drama at the start with Quality Alone refusing to load and having to be withdrawn. Once the race got under way, Fisani was soon in front, showing the way from her stablemates Alderry and hot favourite Sidera, the latter perfectly positioned on the rails. Spiced Gold and all Afire were next best ahead of Generous Anna, who also enjoyed a rails run.

Fisani was tackled by the chasing pack soon after entering the straight and Sidera was quick to challenge. Alderry was also running a big race with Generous Anna starting to move into contention. Here To Win, who had turned for home at the tail end of the field also started to make up ground to the outside.

Sidera was clearly in trouble as she fell away about 300m out and it was Generous Anna who came through to hit the front. Alderry now looked the danger and Fisani appeared a beaten horse but jockey Gavin Lerena was not about to throw in the towel and he kept working away at his mount. The daughter of Kahal (GB) responded with a rousing late effort and she clawed her way back to deny the luckless Generous Anna with Alderry close up in third.

Fisani went off the longest-priced of the powerful Mike de Kock contingent and she appeared to be merely making the pace for her more fancied stablemates but she actually deserved to start a lot shorter after her excellent second to Pierre Jourdan three runs previously. Under normal circumstances, that would have counted as winning form here, but she had then disappointed in two subsequent efforts and was comfortably held by both Sidera and Generous Anna on their meeting in the Fillies Mile three months ago. This was much more like it but it remains to be seen whether she can hold her form from here.

Anton Marcus had mentioned during the run-up to the race that Generous Anna is a genuine sort and she ran another honest race here. She looked a winner at one stage but was unable to respond when Fisani came back at her in the final strides.

Alderry and Here To Win were both taking a major step up in class and they shaped very promisingly here, suggesting that there is more to come. Here To Win, in particular, came from some way back and she could be worth keeping an eye on if she takes her place in the SA Fillies Classic.

Sidera was the obvious disappointment of the race as she fell right out of it but something was clearly amiss with the daughter of Galileo and one can put a line through this run.

Fisani (SAF) is a 3-y-o filly by Kahal (GB) out of Gypsey Spirit by Coastal (USA). She is owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Summerhill Stud Syndicate (Nom: Mr M J B Goss), Mr R S Napier and Mrs B A Napier and was bred by Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd.

Winning trainer: Mike de Kock