The gutsy Ideal World filly Helen’s Ideal set up a Cape Winter ‘Triple Tiara’ showdown in the Listed Winter Oaks on 29 June when showing raw heart and courage in winning the penultimate leg of the fairer sex Cape Winter Series at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Helen’s Ideal rallies again under Donovan Dillon to stave off Craig Zackey and Star Fighter in an exciting finish (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
A bonus of R150 000 is up for grabs for the filly that can scoop the series and even though Helen’s Ideal hasn’t tried the 2200m of the Oaks yet, her smart close-up showing in the Cape Derby in January suggests she could well be effective over further.
On Saturday the Paul Reeves-trained galloper showed her tough disposition by leading the Listed Stormsvlei Mile field, being passed, and then coming back – twice – from a beaten looking position, to gain a meritorious victory.
Donovan Dillon rode a well-judged race, showing the courage and belief in his mount, to put the crop away – she wasn’t enjoying it – and rode her with the hands to hold off a determined challenge from Star Fighter to win by 0,30 lengths in a time of 100,83 secs.
Happy Helen supporters club! The winning connections (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Duchess Of Bourbon snuck into third on the rail, shading Shamrock Wind.
Bred by Peter de Beyer, who also races the winner in partnership with Paul Barrett, Helen’s Ideal has now won 5 races with 2 places from 10 starts and stakes of R410 075.
She is a daughter of Ideal World (Kingmambo) out of the one-time winning Fort Wood mare, Tequila Blush.
