Fly By Night (outside) cruises past Alboran Sea to a conclusive win (Bay Media)
Mike Bass’ high-class Jet Master mare Fly By Night demonstrated her credentials as a mixed sex Gr1 winner when she proved too strong for the younger Mike De Kock-trained speedster Alboran Sea to win the R400 000 Tony Taberer Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes in fine style at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The 3yo Alboran Sea was having her first outing in Cape Town and started a warm order 9 to 10 favourite to win the 1000m weight-for-age sprint, named in honour of the late Avontuur supremo, Tony Taberer.
Lanner Falcon and the restless Rosier were slow away as Anthony Delpech had Alboran Sea flying out of the gates. The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar threw her legs out to lead Savannah Song, with Fly By Night relaxed on the rail about 4 lengths off the action.
At the 200m marker, Bernard Fayd’herbe shook the reins on the 3 to 1 Fly By Night and the daughter of Jet Master put her head down to chase the free-striding leader.
Fayd’herbe switched Fly By Night to the outside of Alboran Sea just off the 100m marker and she drew off to win well by a half length in a time of 58,21 secs.
Confident ride on the better horse on the day – Bernard Fayd’herbe
Savannah Song showed a lot of pace and ran a meritorious race to hang on for third ahead of the speedy Varikate, who was never in the hunt and found this tough.
Alboran Sea was not disgraced in second, but may have added more impetus to racing analyst Robert Bloomberg’s argument on the Under Starter’s Orders show on Saturday morning that the handicappers may need to revisit the generous ratings accorded the 3yo’s.
Trained by veteran Mike Bass for a partnership of Bryn Ressell, Markus Jooste and Marsh Shirtliff, Fly By Night has now won three on the trot since her career peak victory in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint in July.
She has now won 5 races with 8 places from 19 starts and R1 084 300.
The winner was bred by Patricia Devine and is a R180 000 National Yearling Sale graduate.
She is by Jet Master out of the twice winning Model Man mare, Fly The Wind.
She can be followed with confidence.
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Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 6, R400k, 1000m, turf, good, 58.21
1 – FLY BY NIGHT (SAF), 60.0, b m 5, Jet Master (SAF) – Fly The Wind (SAF) by Model Man (SAF). Owner Messrs M J Jooste, Bryn Ressell & N M Shirtliff; Breeder PJ Devine; trainer MW Bass; jockey B Fayd’herbe
2 – Alboran Sea (AUS), 56.0, b f 3, Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) – Lady’s Light (USA) by Toolighttoquit (USA)
3 – Savannah Song (SAF), 60.0, ch f 4, National Emblem (SAF) – Savannah Star (SAF) by Damascus Gate (USA)
Margins: 0.50, 6.25, 0.40
