Eastern Cape stalwart Tara Laing and jockey Ryan Munger got the 2022/23 season off to a terrific start at Fairview on Friday when the super-consistent Flower Alley mare Integrity went all the way in a gutsy performance to win the R150 000 Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes.
Taking on two hardknockers in fellow Flower Alley daughter Santa Therese, and the high quality Cape raider Rain In Newmarket, Integrity scored a deserved stakes credit when she kept on resolutely under a magnificently judged Munger rider to score the upset at 12-1.
Ryan Munger brings Integrity home after leading all the way (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
Riding a clever race, Ryan Munger cheekily played them on the break and got his mount to find more when it counted, as Integrity kept galloping to hold off Santa Therese (14-10) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 100,34 secs.
The 18-10 Rain In Newmarket ranged up dangerously under Piere Strydom, but had no answers and had to be content with third, a further 0,75 lengths back.
Raced by Tara Laing Racing supporter Mr R Bundhun, the winner was bred by Maine Chance Farms and made it an exacta clean sweep for Mauritzfontein’s Distorted Humor stallion, Flower Alley. The latter sired a winning double at the Vaal 24 hours in a good start to the season. The Gr1 Travers Stakes winning sire enjoyed a wonderful season in 2021-2022, with his flagbearers headed by Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes winner Princess Calla, and fellow graded stakes winners Bold Fortune, Firealley and Maharanee.
The winner is out of the versatile six-time winner Illumiere (Giant’s Causeway) and cost R600 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. She has won 7 races with 9 places from 20 starts for stakes of R482 525.
The Gr1 Travers Stakes winning sire had a wonderful season in 2021-2022, with his flagbearers headed by Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes winner Princess Calla, and fellow graded stakes winners Bold Fortune, Firealley and Maharanee.
Flower Alley has 11 lots on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.
