Treble for Lerena
THE outstanding Summerhill Stud mare Vin Fizz added two more accolades to her glittering record when her son Champagne Haze won the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1 160m at Turffontein on Saturday and her daughter Belle Rose won the Listed Oaks Trial over 2 000m.
The Gary Alexander-trained Champagne Haze, who has not won beyond 1 450m, proved speed was what he was all about when bursting through under Gavin Lerena to win going away by two lengths from the speedy Gr 3-winning three-year-old filly Wrecking Ball.
The favourite Bull Valley, who is a bull of a horse, was pipped for third but will come on from the run and will no doubt be a big runner in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1 000m on May 6.
Belle Rose
In the Listed Oaks Trial Belle Rose carried joint-topweight and showed a lot of heart under Callan Murray to stave off the persistent challenge of the other topweight Wind Chill and win by 0,2 lengths.
The unexposed Silvano filly Parabola, to whom they were giving 5,5kg, was a further 1,3 lengths back in third.
Consequently, Belle Rose put herself in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic (1 800m) picture.
The form will also put Oriental Oak in with a chance next Saturday, as she beat Wind Chill by 1,75 lengths over 2 000m last time when receiving 1,5kg.
However, both fillies will have to go some to beat the comfortable Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Smiling Blue Eyes, as well as the like of Orchid Island and Babbling Brook, who will both appreciate the step up to 1 800m.
Champagne Haze is by Kahal and Belle Rose is by the stamina influence Golden Sword.
Their half-brother Pierre Jourdan (Parade Leader) was the first to give notice of Vin Fizz’s influence, winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown in 2010, among other feature race successes.
Brazuca
In the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes on Saturday, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Australianbred Teofilio colt Brazuca proved he stays the testing Turffontein 2 000m when winning by a comfortable 3,1 lengths under Gavin Lerena. The runner up Deo Juvente, who was giving the winner 1kg, should come on from the run and will be a runner in the lucrative Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Challenge over the same course and distance on May 6.
Third-placed French Navy clearly takes a while to get to his peak and master trainer Sean Tarry will no doubt have him spot on again for the Champions Challenge.
In the other big races on Saturday, the Corne Spies-trained Sail From Seattle filly Seattle Singer bounced back to her best to win the Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint over 1 160m under Craig Zackey at odds of 28-1.
Pagoda
The Geoff Woodruff-trained Mogok gelding Pagoda easily won the Listed Derby Trial over 2 000m under Gavin Lerena , signalling his SA Derby credentials, although he was only running off an 84 merit rating.
Lerena’s feature race treble thrilled his many fans, who were becoming concerned about the national log-leading jockeys rare drought of 71 rides without a winner.
He is now seven clear of Greg Cheyne in the race for the National Championship.