Panic Button! Rpyalsecuritybaby (orange cap) gets up in a thrilling finish to catch Princess Julietta
The Kings Pact form proved to be hardly worth the paper it is written on as the winner there, War Path, ran a dismal race at short odds in Sunday’s R150 000 Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes run over 1100m at Clairwood.
The public wounds of the sensational incident on Sunday 17 March, where War Path got a flyer and went on to win a controversial Kings Pact Stakes, were opened at the same venue on Sunday.
And as if to kick sand in punter’s eyes, War Path started a 17 to 20 favourite, but after taking a slight bump at the jump, she ran a shocker and finished second to last over 11 lengths back.
Caribbean Bay made the early pace and she led Princess Julietta and Amoroso, who were just ahead of Ravishing Gem and War Path. In the early stages Royalsecuritybaby was stone last and going nowhere fast.
Princess Julietta glided into the lead at the 400m marker and stole a march of three lengths as she looked to be going on to an easy win.
But in an amazing change of scenery, Delpech got to work on Royalsecuritybaby, and the little chestnut turned on the jets to catch Princess Julietta in the final stride to win in great style.
The winner started at 20 to 1 on her debut and she registered a time of 63,23 secs.
The maiden Cayenne ran third a further three lengths back at 50/1, with Ravishing Gem fading to fourth.
Winning jockey Anthony Delpech was quite breathless in the interview after the race: “I was so far back I was wondering how far behind we would finish. But she started picking it up at the 500m marker. She isn’t a big filly, but she has a lovely action.I didn’t think she could win this, but she is . obviously smart,” he said.
Winning trainer Kum Naidoo said his charge had shown good work back home and was ‘a seriously smart filly’. He thanked loyal owner Roy Moodley, who he said was away in the USA.
Bred by Reavill Farm Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Royalsecuritybaby is by Coolmore Danehill Dancer stallion, Choisir, who won up to 1200m.
She is out of the unraced Marscay mare Serene City, who is a daughter of the Gr1 AJC Oaks winner, Savana City.
So what are punters to make of the juvenile filly form?
First the Kings Pact Stakes result, and now this. Throw in Corne Spies’ Sioux She, who ran a nice third to Arcetri Pink in the Pretty Polly Stakes a week earlier at Turffontein, and who could only run a flat 6,80 length fifth today. Caution must be the watchword, as it usually is with the baby races, going forward.
