As if we haven’t already had enough drama with just one month of the new term behind us, the first graded stakes feature of the 2018/19 season, the R250 000 Gr3 Spring Spree Stakes, produced a dramatic finish with a dead-heat and an objection crowning a thrilling 1200m dash.
Run over the barrier-gate sensitive Turffontein inside track, there were a few traffic issues in running, with the field marshalling to the outside – thanks, in part, to the false rail configuration.
The dead-heat of the Spring Spree Stakes
The pacy Russian Prince led favourite Prince Of Kahal, Valbonne and Angel’s Power into the straight, with Post Merchants winner La Bella Mia being given a patient ride by Muzi Yeni.
Into the final stages, S’manga Khumalo looked to have timed his effort perfectly as Angel’s Power – second in this race in 2016 and 2017 and fourth last year – moving forward powerfully to grab the consistent Prince Of Kahal.
But in a grandstand finish, the Roy Magner charge Prince Of Kahal came right back in game fashion to give the talented Denis Schwarz his third winner on the day and force the dead heat in a time of 71,78 secs.
Schwarz objected against the shared result but the judges didn’t agree that the Azzie’s Angel’s Power had done enough to justify demotion..
Denis Schwarz – great day with three winners (Pic – JC Photos)
The 6yo Zouaves ran on well fresh after an eleven week break over a distance marginally short of his best to grab third a length back.
The smart filly La Bella Mia was not disgraced in fourth.
With everybody looking for the outside rail down the straight, things became quite messy late with a few getting squeezed for space. Bold Eagle was one who had to be checked.
A son of Kahal (Machiavellian) out of the five-time winning Model Man mare Vogue, Prince Of Kahal was bred by Clifton Stud and was bought for R120 000 at the KZN Yearling Sale.
He took his stakes earnings to R855 038, with his seventh win and ninth place from 26 starts.
The 7yo Angel’s Power, who finally got the Spring Spree Stakes that he has sought for four straight years, is a son of Miesque’s Approval (Miesque’s Son) out of the Mogok mare, Angel Child. He was purchased at the 2014 National 2yo Sale for R100 000.
He took his stakes earnings to R766 700, with his sixth win and 19th place from 41 starts.
The Pick 6 pool – projected to reach R3 million – got to a healthy R5 569 419!
It paid a dividend of R943 659.
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Gr3 Spring Spree Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, August 31, R250k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.11.78
1 – PRINCE OF KAHAL (SAF), 57.5, ch g 5, Kahal (GB) – Vogue (SAF) by Model Man (SAF). Owner Mr R W S Chung; Breeder Clifton Stud; trainer RR Magner; jockey D Schwarz
2 – ANGEL’S POWER (SAF), 53.0, b g 7, Miesque’s Approval (USA) – Angel Child (SAF) by Mogok (USA). Owner Dr R J P Maponya & Mr E G Bouwer; Breeder Scott Bros; trainer MG & AA Azzie; jockey S Khumalo
3 – Zouaves (SAF), 60.5, b g 6, Sail From Seattle (USA) – Zayna (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
Margins: 1.00, d/h, 0.10
