Isca blows up a storm
GAVIN van Zyl looks to have a smart colt in the making in the grey Isca. Taking on stakes company on debut the son of Var skated away from his field in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes at Turffontein yesterday to win in the manner of a colt with a bright future.
Always up with the pace as Mogok Master cut the early fractions, S’manga Khumalo set his mount about his business 400m out. Mogok Master surrendered tamely as Isca shot clear of his field and in spite of racing very green he put plenty of daylight between himself and second-placed Brazuca, another making his debut for Johan Janse van Vuuren.
No doubt Van Zyl will have the SA Nursery in mind after this display and given what has been on offer to date, Isca is likely to start among the fancied runners for the first Gr 1 juvenile feature of the season.
Entisaar
It was a day of debutants as Entisaar opened her account first time of asking in the Listed Ruffian Stakes. The Australianbred daughter of More Than Ready emulated stable companion Majmu for Mike de Kock as she got the better of Speedy Suzie inside the last furlong. Speedy Suzie had the call from the jump by Anthony Delpech had her covered all the way as he tracked Corne Spies’ pacemaker and delivered Entisaar with a telling challenge to win rather comfortably.
The Listed Bauhinia Handicap went the way of the Dominic Zaki-trained Crown Of Roses who was chased home by Seventh Symphony and Clear Sailing. Always up with the pace under apprentice Ryan Munger, Crown Of Roses kept rolling relentlessly to grind her opposition into the turf.
The grey Santa Carolina was sent out favourite for the NonBlack Type Sun Chariot stakes but the race proved a triumph for Geoff Woodruff as Wild Ash came home smoothly under Piere Strydom ahead of stable companion Miss Rambo with hot favourite Santa Carolina a disappointing fifth.
Rampant Ice
Michael Leaf is a staunch supporter of Weiho Marwing’s yard and he has had some good success in recent weeks. That run continued in the Non-Black Type Egoli Mile as Rampant Ice lived up to his name and pulled clear comfortably under Marco van Rensburg. The blinkered Easy Lover never really got into the race while Crevasse was very keen going to the start and then ran into a mountain of traffic in the straight and is one for the notebook.
Former Vodacom Durban July winner Heavy Metal, having his first run back after a disappointing Dubai campaign, caught the eye with a close-up fourth to in-form Aurum Port in a Pinnacle Sprint. Sean Tarry’s runner benefited from a strong early pace set by Greasepaint but the outing will have brought him on nicely for the balance of the season.
Super Saturday
Champion filly Via Africa made her Dubai debut in the Maydan Sprint on Super Saturday yesterday but after showing strong early pace she was unable to match her male rivals and finished in the pack. However, she was far from disgraced as she was no more than two lengths adrift of winner Sir Maximilian.
Gavin Lerena had her out on a flash and tracked over to the middle of the track as she was up with the early pace. However, once the challenges came Via Africa was unable to match her rivals and at one stage looked as if she would fade out completely. But she kept on gamely to finish in the pack but not far off the winner. This was her first start since winning the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint back in May last year.
Mubtaahij
Earlier Mike de Kock got his afternoon off to a winning start as Mubtaahij proved far too good for his rivals in the Al Bastakiya, putting many lengths between himself and much vaunted Uruguayan champion Sir Fever who was looking for his tenth straight win on the dirt.
South Africa’s had high hopes for Vercingetorix to land his second Gr 1 Jebel Hatta but last year’s winner was never in the hunt and finished in the pack. It was a run way below form by the De Kock runner but winner Hunter’s Light was in a race of his own as he won by many, many lengths. SOUTH African buyers were prominent at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales that ended on Wednesday with Brett Crawford signing for the top lot and setting a sales record.
Crawford, no doubt buoyed by Futura’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J&B Met victory, forked out $560 000 (R5,6 million) for a Snitzel filly, Lot 44. The Yallambee Stud offering was sold for only $10,000 less than the record price for a filly set at the 2006 edition of the Inglis Premier Sale.
Also in business was Joey Ramsden who paid $340 000 for a filly by first season sire Foxwedge.
Popular Cape Town owner Marsh Shirtliff was also in the scrum and went to $135 000 to secure a son of Artie Schiller.
Other South Africa’s prominent in the market were Form Bloodstock who bought eight lots and Andy Williams’ World Wide Bloodstock.
The top priced colt set a new Australian sales record price for the progeny of first season sire Foxwedge when a colt from Group 1 performer Glowlamp (by Encosta de Lago), was purchased by for $420,000. The colt was bought by New South Wales trainer Paul Perry.
45 Lots sold for $200,000 or more that was a significant jump from 24 sold in 2014.