The Trippi gelding Trip To Heaven has matured into a top-class sprinter at the age of 5 and scored his second win in the R450 000 Gr2 Merchants after a dramatic race at Turffontein on Saturday,
Trip To Heaven (S’manga Khumalo) finishes too strongly for stablemate Bull Valley (Weichong Marwing) in the Tarry Merchants exacta (Pic – JC Photos)
The Sean Tarry yard was in sparkling form, registering their third winner of the afternoon and celebrating a superb exacta – but the happy moment was marred when the third of their runners appeared to collapse after coming under pressure at the 300m.
Jockey JP van der Merwe fell heavily as his mount Buckland floundered in a shocking sight for racegoers. Van der Merwe was stood down for the afternoon.
There was earlier drama at the start when Trip To Heaven pulled a shoe, and had to be reshod.
To add further to the merit of the win, Trip To Heaven dwelt at the start and was relaxed near the rear as KZN visitor Executive Power and African Ruler led the charge, ahead of Tar Heel and Joan Ranger.
S’manga Khumalo – cool ride under pressure
Khumalo had Trip To Heaven edging closer down the inside as the Querari gelding Kangaroo Jack glided to the head of affairs at the 300m, looking good for his sixth win on the trot.
Kangaroo Jack had little to offer late as Trip To Heaven cruised into the lead, pursued by his Golden Loom Handicap winning stablemate, Bull Valley.
Khumalo had plenty in hand and Trip To Heaven went on to win more comfortably than the official margin of 0,3 lengths would suggest. The winning time was 67,78 secs.
Topweight Talktothestars came out best of the rest to shade the gallant filly Joan Ranger for third.
A winner of 6 of 16 starts with 5 places and R1 314 750 in stakes, the top-class Trip To Heaven is a R1,4 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate.
Bred by Highlands, Trip To Heaven is by Trippi out of the Cee’s Tizzy four-time winner Helleborous Blue.
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Gr2 Merchants (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 26, R450k, 1160m, turf, soft, 1.07.78
1 – TRIP TO HEAVEN (SAF), 59.5, b g 5, Trippi (USA) – Helleborus Blue (USA) by Cee’s Tizzy (USA). Owner Messrs C J H van Niekerk & M J Jooste; Breeder Highlands; trainer SG Tarry; jockey S Khumalo
2 – Bull Valley (SAF), 56.0, b g 4, Toreador (IRE) – Star Of Liberty (SAF) by Saumarez (GB)
3 – Talktothestars (SAF), 62.0, b g 5, Overlord (AUS) – Tellittothestars (SAF) by Spaceship (ARG)
Margins: 0.30, 2.10, 0.90
