Hawaii Double For The Fever

Double Delight. Whiteline Fever draws clear under Piere Strydom to win the Hawaii Stakes (JC Photos)

This could be the season that the Right Approach gelding Whiteline Fever finally cracks a well deserved Gr1 win. That is the message that Sean Tarry’s smart galloper sent out when walloping his opponents at Turffontein on Saturday to win the R400 000 Gr2 Hawaii Stakes for the second year running.

Only nine runners, which included the highly promising 3yo Chekilli,  went  to post for this well endowed 1400m test and racing fans would not have been disappointed by an intriguing contest that included former Durban July winner, Pomodoro.

In the end it was Pomodoro’s stablemate  Whiteline Fever under  champion jockey Piere Strydom, who  did  his usual professional thing, when he steered the 22 to favourite to an easy win.

Mike De Kock’s filly Festival Of Fire broke her stall open and damaged it, resulting in the field being taken out and having to be reloaded.

Pessoa and Killua Castle lost a few lengths at the start as the smart Chekilli jumped from the widest draw and lead Pomodoro and Isobar with Festival Of Fire and Whitleine Fever further back.

Chekilli was chased by Isobar as they came for home, with the field spreading  out at the 400m marker.

Piere Strydom. Rode the winner for Sean Tarry

Strydom shrewdly angled Whiteline Fever out wide to what was possibly the better turf and he took the lead at the 300m marker,  as Chekilli stuck gamely to his paces with Uncle Tommy producing a rattle on the outside.

In an impressive display after a great fourth in the J&B Met, Whiteline Fever beat Chekilli by 1,75 lengths in a time of 86,03 secs.

The versatile warrior Uncle Tommy charged through late for a smart third at 18 to 1, while Glorious Jet hung on to the fringes for a 3,25 length fourth.

Jockey Gavin Lerena appeared before the Stipendiary Board and was questioned regarding his ride on Pomodoro  in the latter stages.   Pomodoro, who went off at 7 to 2, finished seventh and six lengths off the winner.

Lerena explained   that he was advised by Trainer Sean Tarry that should this horse tire he was not to punish it, as his mount was  coming back from a lay-off due to an injury.  Tarry confirmed his instructions to Lerena and the explanation was noted by the Stipes.

A mud spattered Piere Strydom paid tribute to the winner :

“Wherever  he finds himself in his races he gives an effort. He did put his ears back in the end but his job was done by then. Full marks to Sean (Tarry) for having him so right on the day and for keeping him going for so long. A great job!” said a delighted Strydom.

Trainer Sean Tarry said that Whiteline Fever was a ‘wonderful horse’ and that it was hard to believe he hadn’t won a GrI in his career yet. He added that his charge would follow the same path as last year and would go for the Horse Chestnut Stakes next.

Bred by Daytona Stud, Whiteline Fever is by Right Approach out of the lightly raced one time winning daughter of Sportsworld, Hockey Corner.

Whiteline Fever cost R700 000 as a Cape Yearling  sales topper  when held at Sandringham Farm.

Sold as lot 91 he was knocked down to Chris van Niekerk seated with Sean Tarry.  Messrs Marsh Shirtliff and Markus Jooste race him in partnership with Van Niekerk.

Whiteline Fever has been a more than solid citizen, having registered his seventh win with 13 places from 30 starts and R1 646 535 in stakes.

He has plenty of racing left to grab that Gr1!