Impala Lily blooms
THE highlight of yesterday’s eight race Greyville meeting was a Graduation Plate over 1 200m. In a thrilling finish the Dean Kannemeyertrained four-year-old Trippi filly Impala Lily denied the favourite Dawn Calling, having been brought from well off the pace by Anthony Delpech.
Dawn Calling, who was officially the best weighted horse in the race, appeared to have it wrapped up when catching the second-best weighted horse Free State close to home.
The latter had been taken to the front from a wide draw.
However, Dawn Calling could not find any extra to repel a flying Impala Lily, who was officially 2kg under sufferance with the runner up.
Punters got off to a good start when the even money favourite Terabyte held on to win a maiden for three-year-olds over 1 600m.
The Dennis Drier-trained Jay Peg colt’s headstrong antics were solved by a noseband and a decision to take him to the front.
He settled beautifully and jockey Sean Veale later allowed Storm Out going to take it up.
Terabyte held on by 0,5 lengths despite being green in the straight.
However, three-year-old males in major centres are not allowed to be rated less than a net 64 if they win their maiden in their first five starts, even if is a weak polytrack event, so the minimum rating he will be awarded is an 80.
This will make it tough for him in his first handicap.
Miss Suey
In the second, a maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1 600m, the Duncan Howells-trained Kahal filly Miss Suey came with a storming run from off the pace to win by 1,5 lengths under Keagan de Melo, despite starting odds of 100/1.
She had been beaten 21,9 lengths over 1 200m on debut.
However, Howells had told De Melo to expect a good run in the parade ring.
The 22/10 favourite Queen Diva finished second. This saved place accumulator and bipot punters, as the winner’s 40/1 shot stablemate Roy’s Kaitrina finished third.
In the third, a maiden over 1 200m, the Gareth van Zyl-trained Sail From Seattle three-year-old gelding Zloty Potok was given a finely judged ride by Warren Kennedy, coming from off them to sweep past the favourite Prince Myshkin and win by 1,75 lengths at odds of 4/1.
Gareth will be acquiring his own official licence in a week’s time.
Go With Flo
In the fourth, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1 200m, the Michael Roberts-trained three-year-old King’s Chapel filly Go With Flo built on a fair debut by wearing down the leader Sonic AP and winning by a length. She started 22/10 second favourite.
Sonic AP finished second and the 16/10 favourite Gusheshe was third.
The sixth, a MR 62 handicap over 1 200m, was won comfortably by the Dennis Bosch-trained 33/10 favourite King Django, a typically improving fouryear-old colt by Go Deputy, who was ridden by Anton Marcus.
The seventh, a MR 74 Handicap over 1 400m, saw a deserved win for the Gavin van Zyl-trained eightyear-old Australian-bred Hussonet gelding Tipo Tinto and this clinched a double for De Melo.
The eighth, a MR 74 Handicap over 2 000m, was run at a crawl and the Alyson Wright-trained Brave Tin Soldier colt Jama ridden by Brandon Lerena just got the better of the Dean Kannemeyer-trained favourite Tanjiro.
Jockey Anthony Delpech objected on the grounds of interference in the closing stages, but it was overruled.