Richard Fourie drives Ash Cloud out to a smart win
“Months and months of effort have gone into her run and this is the one we have been waiting for.” SA champion trainer Justin Snaith was spot on about his pre-race assessment of the Black Minnaloushe filly Ash Cloud, who stayed on doggedly to win the R300 000 Gr2 Gold Circle Oaks at Scottsville on Sunday.
The lightly raced 4yo rounded off an excellent Champions Season weekend for the Cape yard and Freeman Stallions-sponsored rider Richard Fourie, after Daring Dave had come from nowhere to win the Gr2 Post Merchants at Greyville 48 hours earlier.
Besides the Greyville – Scottsville Gr2 double, Snaith also enjoyed a winner at Fairview on Friday and a nice double at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Interestingly, the Gold Circle Oaks winner Ash Cloud used to campaign in the Chinsammy red and black that Daring Dave races in, but was sold in midstream to Drakenstein Stud – in whose silks she won on Sunday.
Ash Cloud stays all day and now, as a dual Oaks winner (she won the Gr1 SA Oaks as a 3yo), she looks set to make a lovely broodmare, with Drakenstein’s gold club of class stallions.
Pecan Nut made the early running but was overtaken by Saint Sophia who went out to speed matters up, with Ash Cloud, Vino Veritas and Gallica Rose in close attendance.
Fourie sent Ash Cloud for home at the top of the straight, but her glance at the staring stalls cost her attention at a vital stage and Bernard Fayd’herbe had Gallica Rose in full flight down the inside.
In a super display of determination and class, Fourie got Ash Cloud to pick it up again and she came again to beat the weak 4-1 favourite Gallica Rose by a short head in a time of 151,16 secs.
Vino Veritas hung on gallantly for third a further half length back, with the consistent Patchit Up Baby in fourth.
It was a smart win under sufferance by Ash Cloud, who despite Snaith’s bullish comments, started at a generous 11-2.
Trainer Justin Snaith said that Ash Cloud had been purchased by Drakenstein as she has so much stamina in her bloodline:
“She was a clever buy and I feel she would have won easier if she had not been distracted by the starting gates at the 300m,” said the elated conditioner.
Jockey Richard Fourie is in great form on the eve of his departure for Hong Kong, and he rode a typically assertive race.
“She was going like a winner, but I had to yell at her as she looked at the stalls halfway down the home straight and lost her concentration,” he said.
Ash Cloud is a winner of 4 races with 4 places from 17 starts and stakes of R998 575.
An R800 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, she was bred by Carl and Amanda De Vos and is by Black Minnaloushe out of the two time winning Foveros mare, Star Of Arcole.
This prolific winner producer also mothered the top class stayer Princess Of Light and solid PE-based multiple winner over ground, Drill Sargeant.
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Gr2 Gold Circle Oaks (SAf-Gr2)
Scottsville, South Africa, June 21, R300k, 2400m, turf, good, 2.31.16
1 – ASH CLOUD (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Star Of Arcole (SAF) by Foveros (GB). Owner Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert); Breeder CF & Mrs de Vos; trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie
2 – Gallica Rose (SAF), 59.0, b f 4, Silvano (GER) – Al Jestic (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
3 – Vino Veritas (SAF), 58.0, b f 4, Silvano (GER) – Valdovino (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
Margins: 0.15, 0.50, 1.25
