Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Gimmethegreenlight filly Lady Of Steel maintained her perfect record when she showed a smart turn of foot to win the R200 000 It’s A Rush Gr3 Acacia Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.
After having won her first three starts in good style, the former Joey Ramsden charge has made great strides since transferring to the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard and commencing her racing career over 1200m at the Vaal back in November.
Chase Maujean steers Lady Of Steel to victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
On Saturday she started at an easy to back 7-2 at her maiden start in stakes company.
Relaxed some lengths off the leader early by Chase Maujean, she made up many lengths in the straight as the gaps opened.
Catching the gallant long-time leader Virginia (20-1) at the 200m marker, Lady Of Steel powered home to win going away by 2,25 lengths in a time of 97,76 secs.
Querari Ferrari (16-1) stayed on well for third a further quarter length back, with Perfect Tigress (20-1) in fourth.
Winning rider Chase Maujean said that the race ‘worked out beautifully’.
“I was worried about the step-up in class from the wide draw. But she did everything right,” he added.
Closely related to the sire’s dual Gr3 winning son Gimme One Night, Lady Of Steel was a R700 000 purchase by Heywood Bloodstock from the 2018 National 2YO Sale.
She has won four from four and banked R270 800.
She was bred by Lammerskraal Stud and is by Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winning sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of Western Winter Gr1 winner, Fair Maiden.
Her next tentative target is the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes. That will be tougher as it’s a Gr1 weight-for-age contest.
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Gr3 Acacia Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, March 7, R200k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.37.76
1 – LADY OF STEEL (SAF), 52.5, b f 3, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Fair Maiden (SAF) by Western Winter (USA). Owner Mrs G Breitenbach & Mr R Breitenbach; Breeder Lammerskraal Stud; trainer JAJ v Vuuren; jockey C Maujean
2 – Virginia (SAF), 54.0, ch f 4, Philanthropist (USA) – Southern Pine (SAF) by Silvano (GER)
3 – Querari Ferrari (SAF), 52.0, b f 3, Querari (GER) – Hold My Heart (SAF) by Muhtafal (USA)
Margins: 2.25, 0.25, 0.50
