Vasco Prawn Festival a huge success

Perovskia stole the show at Kenilworth on Saturday as the gutsy gelding scored what has become a trademark hard fought victory in the Listed Kepu Trading Jet Master Stakes.

Popular veteran trainer Harold Crawford said that his last Listed winner was “War Raider in the 1980s – he won 12 races and beat Gondolier”.

Few if any would begrudge him a well-deserved moment of glory.

The son of Russian Sage is cleverly named, as Perovskia is the scientific name for the herb from which his sire took his name. He raced handy as Milton took up his customary front running role.

After taking it up readily around 400m out Perovskia looked hard to beat, but then came under serious threat from the fancied Mambo Mime, and inside the final 200m it seemed likely the Kannemeyer inmate would go on to score.

Being challenged always brings out the best in Perovskia though, and in the words of jockey Lucien Africa he “dug deep, and kept his nose in front’’. The winning margin was a neck.

Many thousands turned out for the Vasco Taverna race day featuring the Cape Town Prawn Festival, and there was a great atmosphere on course.

The Grade 3 Vasco Prix Du Cap was run half an hour earlier, and once again the three-year-old fillies confirmed their superiority. Three went to post, and they filled the first three positions.

In what turned out to be a tactical masterstroke Richard Fourie wasted no time in taking 1400m specialist Elusive Heart to the front, with stable mate Final Judgement, Seattle Gold and Captain’s Flame closest. Favourite Rose In Bloom was well back while fancied Miss Katalin sat in the rear after blowing the start.

Coming to the 400m Fourie quickly established a three-length lead, and while Rose In Bloom and Miss Katalin both got going late the bird had flown, and the margin was a healthy 2.25 lengths at the line.

Glen Kotzen said afterwards Elusive Heart had been “programmed for this race. She will now head to KZN, and Greyville with the short run-in is going to suit her”.