Stakes Win Number 200 for Team Valor when Gypsy's Warning Wins Gr1 SA Fillies Guineas

Gypsy's Warning cemented her position as the top middle distance filly among 3-year-olds in South Africa today with an authoritative 2-length triumph in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, leading a 1-3 finish for Team Valor International, which also had Sweet Theresa finished third in the 9-furlong race.
The win was an historic one for Team Valor's owner Barry Irwin, who was represented by stakes win number 200 for a racehorse he has syndicated since 1987.
"To have stakes win number 200 come in a Grade 1 with a potential Champion is a dream come true," said Irwin, who was racing in Dubai at the World Cup meeting and was unable to see the race. "She's a top filly and will go to Dubai next season."
Veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris sent out both Gypsy's Warning and Sweet Theresa, who along with Mike Azzie-conditioned On Her Toes formed a three-horse entry for the stable.
Barry Irwin said "This was a good day for us, as Gypsy's Warning proved she is the top staying filly in her crop, having won the Grade 1 Thekwini over a mile at 2 and the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic over 9 furlongs at 3. And Sweet Theresa showed that she is a Grade 1 filly, albeit a better performer over a mile than 9 furlongs. On Her Toes needs to revert to a mile as well. She finished sixth today. I am happy for Mr. Ferraris and Stryker. They make a formidable pair. I was forced to run against Dancer's Daughter last time, so I am glad they were able to win this Grade 1 event. They both deserved it."
Irwin said that he is not keen to run in the 12 «-furlong South African Oaks, preferring instead to wait for the Woolavington because of the timing. "I want to have a filly left when she leaves for greener shores," said Irwin. "She will follow the path of our other SA Classic winner and subsequent Champion filly Irridescence and go to Durban for the next Grade 1. Then she will go to Dubai with Mike de Kock after July."

GROUP 1-WINNING 2YO FILLY GYPSY’S WARNING SNAGGED BY A TVI GROUP,
ORMOND FERRARIS WILL TRAIN IN JOBURG FOR NEXT SEASON’S CLASSICS,
MIKE DE KOCK TRAINS FOLLOWING YEAR IN DUBAI BEFORE U. S. CAMPAIGN

Gypsy’s Warning, who employed an Ipi Tombe-like turn of foot to come from the back of the pack to win the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes at Clairwood Park in South Africa, has been acquired privately by Team Valor International, which will race the newly turned 3-year-old filly in partnership with the Green Lantern Stable of Richard and Susan Masson.

Robin Bruss of Northfields Bloodstock did the deal with Barry Irwin.

Green Lantern Stable and Team Valor International raced Irridescence, who was bought by Irwin from Mike de Kock and Tony Moodley on the eve of winning the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, a race for which the newly acquired granddaughter of Storm Cat will be aimed.

 “We will turn her over to Ormond Ferraris in Gauteng,” said Barry Irwin. “We will race her in our colors and in the names of Team Valor International and Ron Griffiths of South Africa. Our plan right now is to skip the Cape Town season and point for the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic and the Grade 2 SA Oaks, after which we will see about the Grade 1 Woolavington.

“Following a raid to Durban, the filly will go into quarantine and sent with some of our other horses to Mike de Kock for a campaign in Dubai.”

Irwin pointed out that the dam of the filly is a full sister to two winners of the South African Oaks and has an extremely stout family. She is by Storm Cat’s son Mogok.

Irwin said that Team Valor will have by far its strongest contingent of 3-year-old fillies in South Africa, all bought at the National Yearling Sale. The line up includes the following:

• On Her Toes is a Western Winter filly who in 3 outings at 2 won twice, including a dead-heat in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship and was second to Merlene de Lago in the Grade 2 Fillies Nursery. She missed late-season Grade 1s because of a bone chip in an ankle, but could prove a tough nut to crack for Mike Azzie in Cape Town for the Fillies Guineas.

• Jet Park is a Jet Master that won her only start in April for trainer Justin Snaith. Big, raw boned and gangly, she nonetheless was able to win a 5-furlong dash down the straight at Kenilworth even though she will want every yard of the mile in the Cape Fillies Guineas, a race Snaith won last season with Team Valor’s Equus Champion Captain’s Lover.

• Chiquita is another Western Winter filly bought at the National Yearling Sale. She came to the races at the beginning of her 3-year-old campaign, but made up for lost time with a handsome 3-length victory for Geoff Woodruff at Clairwood in what appeared to be a hot maiden. The trainer has a Guineas campaign in mind for this filly, who could turn out to be competition for Gypsy’s Warning over a piece of ground owing to a stout German family.