Dual Gr1 winner Carry On Alice stamped her class and authority and made it a feature double for her super sire Captain Al, when she got up in a thriller to win the R400 000 Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Carry On Alice S’manga Khumalo) storms through down the inside with her challengers hot on her heels but out of the frame (Pic- Wayne Marks)
Less than a length covered the first four home in the 1000m contest and with a good mix of fillies from across the country, Carry On Alice’s connections will be feeling decidedly bullish with the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship as her short-term target.
Carry On Alice was SA Champion trainer Sean Tarry’s only runner on the big Summer Of Champions feature day and showed no symptoms of the second- run-post-a -rest hoodoo as she stormed to victory under regular pilot S’manga Khumalo.
KZN visitor Rock On Baby and Jo’s Bond led the charge with Carry On Alice just off the pace from her 1 draw.
At the 400m the cavalry charge was spread across the width of the track as Greg Cheyne grabbed the initiative and sent the Kotzen-trained Princess Royal to lead.
The Princess looked to be going very well, but was quickly overwhelmed by Carry On Alice and Cuvee Brut who went to the line together as one.
The photo- finish snap showed that Carry On Alice had gotten the nod by a short head. She ran the strip in a time of 57,80 secs.
It was a terrific performance in the circumstances by Cuvee Brut, who was hard ridden by Anton Marcus.
Real Princess stormed through late under Grant Behr on the inside and she shaded Princess Royal for the third cheque.
Princess Royal was the first 3yo to finish with only 0,9 lengths separating the top four.
The smart Joburg 3yo’s Entisaar (2,15 lengths) and Little Genie (2,30 lengths) failed to spark and never showed.
S’manga Khumalo – cool ride
Winning jockey S’manga Khumalo confirmed that the race hadn’t gone his way.
“I got some cover and that helped a lot. She is a top filly and gave her all,” he said.
Trainer Sean Tarry thanked his assistant Monique Mansour and trainer Eric Sands, who accommodates Carry On Alice.
“I feel the fact that we travelled a bit earlier this year after last year’s experience has helped a lot. We may go for the Sceptre or Diadem before the Cape Flying,” said Tarry.
Carry On Alice was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is by Captain Al out of the four time winning Western Winter mare, Carry On Katie. Her dam was a multiple Gr1 placed Gr2 winner as a 2yo.
The Tarry flyer has now won 6 races with 9 places from 18 starts and R2 328 125 in stakes.
She sold for R475 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 and races in the interests of Chris Van Niekerk, UK-based Dr J Warner and her breeders.
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Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 5, R400k, 1000m, turf, good, 57.08
1 – CARRY ON ALICE (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Captain Al (SAF) – Carry On Katie (SAF) by Western Winter (USA). Owner Mr C J H van Niekerk, Dr J A Warner & Klawervlei Stud (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr J P Koster); Breeder Klawervlei Stud; trainer SG Tarry; jockey S Khumalo
2 – Cuvee Brut (SAF), 58.0, b f 4, Count Dubois (GB) – Lemonzest (SAF) by Aristis (USA)
3 – Real Princess (SAF), 58.0, ch f 4, Trippi (USA) – Pagan Princess (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
Margins: 0.05, 0.75, 0.10
