Tara Laing and partners’ confidence in a fleetfooted Coup de Grace filly. who had a more than ordinary start to her career down in the Cape, paid some nice dividends at Fairview on Friday when Kiss Of Life held on strongly to win the R80 000 Aloe Handicap.
One of the staunch survivors of the South African training ranks, Tara Laing has ridden the crest of the wave in the good years and been on the receiving end of some hefty blows over the past 5 years.
Kendall Minnie steers Kiss Of Life to a smart win over Bloom and Teaque Gould (Pic – Pauline Herman)
But the fiery Scots’ lass bounced back full of fire on the mid-month January Friday, despite a vastly reduced population of just 20 horses, with a progressive polytrack feature winner, who could be going places.
Kiss Of Life has earned at four of her five starts since winning her Fairview poly maiden at the end of August after four uninspiring starts – said with ‘due respect’ by assistant Gavin Venter – for the Candice Bass-Robinson yard down in the Cape.
Kendall Minnie had Kiss Of Life out quickly and she tracked Eternal Hope before surging forward at the 200m marker to withstand a smart late challenge from the favourite Bloom.
While no times or margin were published by the NRB, Kiss Of Life had at leat a half length to spare at the line and will now be aimed at the Breeders Plate and Breeders Guineas, according to assistant Gavin Venter.
“I’m glad Tara and the owners had the confidence to purchase her. She has continued to improve,” said the veteran former jockey.
A R175 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, Kiss Of Life was bred by Maine Chance Farms and is a daughter of Klawervlei’s Tapit sire Coup De Grace out of the very well-performed eight-time winning Count Dubois mare, Kinematic Countess.
The mare, who raced for Roy Magner, was bred by Pierre Du Toit, and is out of the lightning fast seven time winning National Emblem mare, National Navigator, who was trained in her racing career by Doug Campbell.
Kiss Of Life, who races for Paul O’ Doherty, Ian Henson and Tara Laing, has won 2 races with 4 places from 10 starts for stakes of R206 750.
