The powerful and imposing Kahal filly Kwinta produced the speed and a resolute finishing effort to record her first stakes win when outpointing a quality field to win the R250 000 Gr3 Magnolia Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.
Marco van Rensburg drives Kwinta (4) out to win her first stakes feature. Third placed Eros’s Girl is slightly obscured on the outside, with Lumya (yellow noseband ) in fourth
The Sansui Summer Cup day feature programme got off to a thrilling start, with just 1,30 lengths covering the first four runners home in this fillies and mares speed handicap.
Fourteen ladies lined up in the quest for the all important booster of black type over the Turffontein 1160m, with many punters siding with Mike De Kock’s Captain Al flyer Perfumed Lady who went off at 15-10.
Kwinta had not been ignored and there was plenty of support for her as she jumped at 9-2.
As expected the heat was turned on full blast from the jump with Kwinta always in the firing lane down the outside, as she led Jo Malone and Lumya with Perfumed Lady looking lost down the inside.
Marco van Rensburg – perfect ride on Kwinta
Into the final 300m it was anybody’s race but Kwinta rallied impressively under a powerful ride by Marco Van Rensburg to win by a head in a time of 66,54 secs.
Silver Class flew late for second and was probably a bit of an unlucky loser – after having to switch in when going for the sandwich filler between Jo Malone and Lumya at the 250m marker.
She outgunned her more fancied stablemate Winter Star, who could do no better than 3,60 lengths off.
The now PE-based Eros’s Girl ran a cracker for Yvette Bremner and showed plenty of courage, only to fade late for third. The daughter of Captain Al previously raced out of the Snaith yard.
The Zaki speedster Lumya was always there and looked dangerous for 95% of the journey – she was shaded late for fourth.
The previously unbeaten Perfumed Lady went off favourite when going for her fourth straight win, but failed to get into things down the inside and disappointed her supporters – running a half length behind Winter Star in midfield.
Kwinta was bred by the Kjell Foundation and is a daughter of Kahal out of the thrice winning Northern Guest mare, Salaam.
She is thus a full sister to two solid sprinters in the stakes winning Eastern Greeting and Kalaam – both were also trained by the experienced Stan Ferreira, and won seven races between them.
The consistent Kwinta has won 4 of her 9 starts, with 4 places registered – and gross stakes of R388 375 in the bank.
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Gr3 Magnolia Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 28, R250k, 1160m, turf, good, 1.06.54
1 – KWINTA (SAF), 55.5, b f 4, Kahal (GB) – Salaam (SAF) by Northern Guest (USA). Owner Mrs L C A Bouwer; Breeder Kjell Foundation; trainer S Ferreira; jockey M v Rensburg
2 – Silver Class (SAF), 56.5, b f 4, Silvano (GER) – Aylesbury (SAF) by Rakeen (USA)
3 – Eros’s Girl (SAF), 53.0, b f 4, Captain Al (SAF) – Cupid (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF)
Margins: 0.10, 1.10, 0.10
