Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Gimmethegreenlight gelding Second Base put his hand up for the SA Triple Crown when he made it five wins from six starts, grabbing top honours under topweight and from the widest draw to win the R125 000 Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
While the Gauteng Guineas is only a matter of a fortnight away, and may well come a bit soon after this, there can be little doubt that the SA Classic will be on the radar for the Gold Star Stud-bred gelding who races in the Wernars’ silks in partnership with breeder Ashley Devachander.
Chase Maujean steers Second Base to another smart win (Pic – JC Photos)
Off a muddling pace set by Shah Akbar, Chase Maujean produced the 60kg topweight 300m from home and the goodlooking specimen drew away to beat the lesser fancied of the De Kock duo, Nartje (17-2), by 1,75 lengths in a time of 110,49 secs.
While well beaten a further 3,10 lengths away in third, Joey Soma and his connections will be pleased with their charge Gimmethegoahead (10-1), who came on late for third.
The favourite Al Muthana (3-1) failed to accelerate and finished an 8,75 length sixth.
Second Base took his earnings to R254 900 with his fifth win from six starts.
He has won from 1200m to 1800m and has been subject to a low-profile programme into the forthcoming season.
The winner is by South Africa’s Leading First Crop Sire of 2015-2016, Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), who is enjoying another massive season.
Second Base is out of the one-time winning Fort Wood mare, Passionate Kiss.
