Gqeberha, often called ‘The Windy City’, is known for its remarkable beaches, ancient forts and museums.
Soon, blowing into Cape Town, will be an unbeaten three-year-old named Peach Daiquiri – a filly that has fans in her home town as excited as they were in the days of their home-bred international performers Bold Silvano and Lizard’s Desire.
Raymond Danielson and Peach Daiquiri storm home to win the Fillies Guineas Plate last Friday at Fairview (Pic – Pauline Herman)
The Maine Chance Farms-bred daughter of Vercingetorix is unbeaten in three impressive starts at Fairview and, with soundness, a touch of class and an impressive pedigree on her side, she’ll be a worthy Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas contender on 17 December at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Importantly, too, Peach Daiquiri’s owners hold a ticket to the rich and exciting R7,5-million Gold Rush on WSB Met Day, 23 January 2023. Her owners, the Playgate SA Syndicate (Nom: Mr Furkhat Ibragimov) & Sharon Kotzen Racing bought into the race following her runaway debut win. They acquired the 16th Prospector’s Ticket.
The latest Gold Rush log – for info only!
| 14-Nov | 09-Nov | 03-Nov | Horse | Age | Sex | MR | Wns | |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | TIME FO ORCHIDS | 3 | F | 107 | 1 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | DAVE THE KING | 3 | C | 105 | 2 | |
| 3 | 2 | 20 | SEE IT AGAIN | 3 | C | 104 | 2 | |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | FAR AWAY WINTER | 3 | G | 102 | 3 | |
| 5 | 12 | 11 | PEACH DAIQUIRI | 3 | F | 100 | 3 | |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | LORD WILLIAM | 3 | G | 100 | 1 | |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | SEEKING THE ONE | 3 | C | 100 | 2 | |
| 8 | 7 | 7 | ROYAL AUSSIE | 3 | C | 98 | 2 | |
| 9 | 8 | 4 | ANTIGUA NIGHT | 3 | F | 97 | 1 | |
| 9 | 8 | 8 | PAS DE NOM | 3 | C | 97 | 3 | |
| 11 | 10 | 9 | YELLOWPORSCHEROAD | 3 | G | 96 | 1 | |
| 11 | 10 | 9 | FAMOUS AND RICH | 3 | G | 96 | 2 | |
| 13 | 12 | 11 | CHAMPION WARRIOR | 3 | C | 94 | 2 | |
| 13 | 12 | 11 | TYPESET | 3 | F | 94 | 1 | |
| 13 | 12 | 11 | HAMMIES HERO | 3 | C | 94 | 2 | |
| 16 | 16 | 15 | LE MANS | 3 | C | 93 | 2 | |
| 17 | 17 | 16 | DOWSER | 3 | G | 92 | 1 | |
| 18 | 18 | 17 | ALPINE CHALLENGE | 3 | G | 90 | 1 | |
| 18 | 18 | 17 | TRIPLE TIME | 3 | C | 90 | 1 | |
| 20 | 20 | 19 | TABBY KAT | 3 | F | 89 | 1 | |
| 21 | 21 | 20 | DANCE VARIETY | 3 | C | 88 | 1 | |
| 21 | 21 | 20 | ITSRAININGWILLIAM | 3 | G | 88 | 1 | |
| 21 | 21 | MAX THE OTTER | 3 | G | 88 | 1 | ||
| 24 | 24 | 23 | RULE OF THUMB | 3 | G | 87 | 1 | |
| 24 | 24 | 23 | SPYWING | 3 | F | 87 | 2 |
Playgate SA’s Racing Manager, Rob Champion, commented: “We don’t want to make our geese look like swans, but Peach Daiquiri does look special and we’re all excited. Sharon picked her at the 2021 Premier Sale and we paid only R100 000 for her, an absolute steal considering her pedigree. She’s by a star stallion in Vercingetorix from a Querari mare, that’s the same cross as last year’s Gr1 Guineas winner Chansonette and comes from the family of Punta Arenas and Paraca.”
Peach Daiquiri ran right away from her opposition in her first start over 1200m at Fairview in July before narrowly beating Gr1-placed Ekoria over the same course and distance in October, stepping up from her Maiden into a MR90 handicap.
“She beat a truly poor field first time out, but showed tenacity and class getting up from a Gr1 campaigner right after that. Then, last week, Peach Daiquiri beat Ekoria by 5,25-lengths in the Guineas Plate over 1400m when she was 3,5kg worse off. Most racing pundits expected Ekoria to turn the tables, but our filly showed how progressive she was.”
Peach Daiquiri’s rating was adjusted to MR100 this week. Champion reckoned that was more or less correct considering Ekoria’s rating of 109.
He revealed the stable’s plans with her for the next few weeks: “Peach Daiquiri will be leaving for Cape Town soon and she’ll be based at Glen Kotzen’s Woodhill Estate. Sharon will be there overseeing her preparation. The filly is just blossoming. She’s fresh as a daisy following last week’s run.”
Peach Daiquiri will be partnered in her Cape campaign by Raymond Danielson and Champion explained: “Louis Mxothwa rides most of our horses, but being the stable jockey to Brett Crawford he will have commitments in the Guineas and the Gold Rush. We had meetings with Raymond, a jock with big-race temperament, and decided that he’ll be riding her in her next few starts. He won on her last week, got a feel for her and we believe it’s important now to keep this partnership as it is, in Peach Daiquiri’s big engagements.”
Playgate SA is a welcome and important new addition to the ranks of South African owners and Champion said: “Furkhat Ibragimov is loving the ownership journey so far and he is hugely excited about racing Peach Daiquiri in the Gold Rush. He’s a young businessman based in London, and keen to make inroads in the racing industry.”
Playgate SA has already invested in 15 horses, based around the country with Kotzen, Alec Laird, Shane Humby and Piet Botha. “Several of them are unraced and we’re crossing fingers there will be a few more talented ones among them,” Champion said.
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