Beach Beauty and Sean Cormack are a lethal combination and are set for the double
Of all the equine talents showcasing their skills and brilliance on Vodacom Durban July day, there is one that will be instantly recognisable to most present. Her name is Beach Beauty, a champion mare. She returns in search of a successful defence of her R750 000 Gr1 Garden Province Stakes title at her fourth July day appearance.
The Beach Beauty story takes up an entire chapter of the modern folklore of South African horseracing.
Into Hearts
The daughter of Dynasty has galloped her way into all of our hearts since she commenced her glorious journey into the history books with a low profile maiden win in the hands of Alec Forbes on debut over 1000m at Clairwood on 17 October 2010.
While she has done all of her talking on the racecourse, she will also be the recipient of a unique honour next Tuesday at the Cathsseta Winter Workshop in Summerhill’s School of Equine Management Excellence. What an honour!
The ‘Beach Beauty story’ will be facilitated by Graeme Hawkins and told by Warren Kidd and trainer Dennis Drier, who has guided every step of her climb up the ladder.
Dennis Drier has done wonders with the ‘beauty’
Mistake
Drier, an astute horseman, recently conceded that his biggest mistake (he doesn’t make too many with horses) was not sending the daughter of Dynasty overseas to campaign with Mike De Kock two years ago.
She boasts a record of 16 victories, including 4 Gr1’s, 6 Gr2’s and 1 Gr3, and after winning the Drill Hall Stakes for the second year in succession at her penultimate start and then taking King Of Pain all the way to the wire in the Gr1 Gold Challenge (look at the flash and talent that swallowed her dust there!), it is difficult to oppose her here.
And she has a good draw this time too.
In 2011 as a 3yo, Beach Beauty was runner up in this race to Sean Tarry’s Happy Archer.
In 2012 her connections opted to bid for a July win (who can blame them?) and she ran ninth, beaten only 4,75 lengths behind Pomodoro.
She came back and won the Garden Province Stakes last year from a crazy 15 draw, easily defeating 2014 July hopeful and Betting World 1900 winner, Espumanti.
Beach Beauty frankly looks well nigh impossible to oppose here.
Hammie’s Hooker has come into her own this season and is a major threat
A Princess-In-Waiting
But she is flesh and blood and if she has an off day, there is a princess waiting in the wings.
She is the Trippi filly, Hammie’s Hooker.
The recent Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes winner looks to be the one bright shining light in Mike Bass’ Champions Season this year.
Hammie’s Hooker is enjoying the season of her life after a quiet 3yo campaign and has won her last two outings in grand style. Her 2,25 length win in the Gr2 Tibouchina, when accounting for Jet Aglow was top drawer stuff and the facile nature of the victory spoke of a filly on a mission.
The former champion 2yo comes in fit and only has to overcome her 10 draw to be a serious consideration in getting closest to dethroning Beach Beauty.
But that would be a giantkilling act!
Flight Of The Falcon
Her stablemate Lanner Falcon (another Trippi) finished over 9 lengths behind In The Fast Lane in the Gr1 Woolavington at her last start.
She had run on quite smartly at her two previous outings. That produced a close up third to July candidate Jet Belle in the Poinsettia Stakes and a running on fourth and three lengths behind Maybe Yes in the KRA Fillies Guineas.
This trip may well be more up her alley and she is a worthy quartet inclusion.
Maybe Yes won the KRA Fillies Guineas and is no slouch
Crawford Duo
Brett Crawford’s pair of Maybe Yes and Dancing Dynasty should both be in the firing line.
Maybe Yes won the KRA Filies Guineas but was beaten 2,50 lengths by Hammie’s Hooker in the Toibouchina last time. She is a half kilo worse off with the Bass filly and is drawn even worse than her.
Dancing Dynasty is one of the most improved mares in racing and has won her last three races on the trot. This is her first major test and it is probable that she would have preferred a little bit further to show her best
The ultra-consistent forward pacer Louvre ran third in this race last year but disappointed when fading out to 11 lengths behind Hammie’s Hooker in the Tibouchina at her last start.
She will always be dangerous at this track but it is worrying that her recent regular pilot Kevin Shea has baled to ride Dancing Dynasty.
Arcetri Pink is rather inconsistent but looks a quartet inclusion from her good draw
Gauteng Challenge
The Gauteng challenge is spearheaded by Geoff Woodruff’s coupling of Arcetri Pink and Love Vivien.
The Australian-bred Arcetri Pink has drawn at pole position and enjoys the services of Anthony Delpech.
Despite being laden with serious talent, the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar has proven to be rather inconsistent and her two recent KZN starts hardly inspire confidence.
Tough Strike
Her stablemate Love Vivien takes her chances in this illustrious company but is yet to show that she is up to competition at this level.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren saddles the Kahal filly Euphoria who looks outclassed in this company.
Piere Strydom has been engaged to ride Goldie Coast for Paul Lafferty. The daughter of Choisir was well beaten just under five lengths behind Maybe Yes in the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas which launched Champions Season.
She looks to have a tough task at these weight terms.
Beauty Choice
The statistics and common sense combine to tell us that they are all running for second.
At three quarter of her best Beach Beauty will win it. Hammie’s Hooker will be chasing her home.
The value may lie in the straight line exacta.
