An overseas campaign could well be in the pipeline for the gutsy Dynasty filly Olma, who ran away from a classy field of males to win the R250 000 Gr3 Kings Cup run in torrential rain at Greyville on Friday evening.
This was impressive stuff from the courageous filly, in weather and on a racing surface better suited to ducks, as she registered a hat-trick of victories, including consecutive Gr3 wins.
The fast improving 4yo appears equally effective on turf and poly and her versatility and ability to quicken make her an exciting proposition to go on and make a name for herself.
Olma (Ian Sturgeon) powers home to win the Gr3 Kings Cup
The Gr1 Empress Club Stakes which will be run over a mile at weight-for-age at Turffontein on 16 April could be her next target.
On an evening where the Greyville polytrack proved its worth as an alternative racing surface, Olma’s trainer Frank Robinson and jockey Ian ‘Fish’ Sturgeon enjoyed a decent double.
The combination were also successful in the opening event with the Horse Chestnut gelding Bahamas Woodstar shedding his maiden in style.
As the heavens opened, eleven horses lined up at the mile mark for the evening’s feature, with Charles Laird’s Exit Here a weakish favourite at 9-2, with Olma coming for late support from 11-2 into 4-1. Exit Here’s stablemate Stormy Eclipse also had his supporters.
The handily weighted Mumsy’s Jet was taken out to lead by Keagan De Melo, and this looked to be a likely winning tactic as they came for home with the son of Jet Master pounding away down the inside rail with a useful advantage.
But the gelding had no answer for the late challenge of Olma who, unflustered by the nasty weather, strode out to win impressively by 2,75 lengths in a time of 95,94 secs.
Ian Sturgeon – nice double on a wet evening
Another Dynasty product in Stormy Eclipse came from a few lengths off and just failed to nab Mumsy’s Jet. His third looks very acceptable on his consistent form profile.
The Sporting Post weekend cover star Way Of Light, who went off at 18-1, was a further half length back in fourth.
Exit Here ranged dangerously in the straight but had nothing to come (possibly disliking the conditions) and fell away to finish stone last.
The Cheveley Stud bred Olma is a daughter of Dynasty out of the UK placed Danzig mare, Theas Dance.
She cost R450 000 at the National Yearling Sale when signed for by Malkinsky Stud.
Olma has now won 7 races with 3 places from 17 starts and took her stakes earnings to R640 375.
She will pay to follow.
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Gr3 Kings Cup (SAf-Gr3)
Greyville, South Africa, March 11, R250k, 1600m, a/w, good, 1.35.94
1 – OLMA (SAF), 58.0, b f 4, Dynasty (SAF) – Theas Dance (GB) by Danzig (USA). Owner Mr Z Bifov; Breeder Cheveley Stud; trainer F Robinson; jockey I Sturgeon
2 – Mumsy’s Jet (SAF), 52.0, b g 5, Western Winter (USA) – Southern Forest (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
3 – Stormy Eclipse (SAF), 55.0, gr g 4, Dynasty (SAF) – Stormy Appeal (SAF) by Kilconnel (USA)
Margins: 2.75, 0.05, 0.50
