Oh no, cried every fan of miss Susanna
Take Baby Lets Mambo to win
The saying one man’s pain is another man’s gain perfectly sums up 66-1 rank outsider Camphoratus’ 0.20-length triumph in Saturday afternoon’s Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein racecourse. The pain was felt by the many followers of four-time Grade 1 winner and 2018 Sun Met heroine Oh Susanna, whose fourth-place finish - failing to justify 2-1 favouritism - sent a large majority of BiPot and Pick 6 tickets straight to the trash can, and the pleasure was enjoyed by the jockey-trainer combination of Gareth Wright and Robbie and Shannon Hill, who both took home their first Grade 1 trophy. If anything, the Justin Snaith outfit should be commended for giving Johannesburg racegoers the opportunity to see Oh Susanna in the flesh. Race dynamics changed a few times in the dying stages of this contest. Passing the 400m marker Snaith’s charge hit the front under an animated Richard Fourie and looked as though she would make light work of rivals.
However that lead didn’t even last 50m! Running Brave (Devin Habib) took over with authority and Camphorutus was still stationed one-from-last, needing to make up a few lengths with the leaders.
Once Wright asked this four-year-old filly to go, the response was instant, producing a devastating turn of foot to outclass Running Brave (22-1) by an extending margin.
Next best were Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Naafaayes and Oh Susanna. That Quartet paid R29 670 and the Exacta R2 013. And only one of the Pick 6 legs was won by a favourite - Basilius in Race 5 - and as a result, it paid R1.97 million.
Sean Tarry-trained Victoria Paige (Luke Ferraris) made an absolute mockery of her older rivals to win the first of the two R250 000 HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco Maiden Plate races by a facile 2.50 lengths. If this performance is any indication, then this daughter of Captain Al’s career is worth following.
The jockey-trainer combination of Calvin Habib and Johan Janse van Vuuren are in sparkling form at the moment, and caused a massive upset in the first leg of the Pick 6 – the second of the Princess Charlene maiden plates – with 50-1 shot Chipofftheoldblok. He defeated 5-1 lukewarm favourite, Stockbridge, by 0.80 lengths.
In very sad news, trainer Stanley Ferreira has died at the age of 66. He was said by many knowledgeable racing people to be one of the best horsemen South Africa has produced and, for the last few years, ran a small stable out of the Vaal.
Australian superstar, Winx, recorded a 33rd consecutive victory on Saturday and a third straight Queen Elizabeth Stakes win in her final race. In doing so, the seven-year-old also bagged a 25th Group 1 trophy. Following an eye-catching triumph at Turffontein, Tobie Spies-trained Baby Lets Mambo, should have no trouble outclassing rivals in Race 1, a Juvenile Plate over the minimum trip in Kimberley today.