Just two years after the closure of Flamingo Park nearly shattered his world, former multiple Northern Cape Champion trainer Corrie Lensley bounced back from the kick in the professional teeth to saddle his maiden Gr1 winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
Ironically, as Alesian Chief led most of the way and stormed home to win the R750 000 Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint on the biggest day of his trainer’s racing career, Corrie Lensley was absent and in attendance at his son Lean’s wedding.
Muzi Yeni has Alesian Chief at full stretch as the son of Vercingetorix wins the big one (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
But longstanding partner Emmie La Grange was on hand together with the smart colt’s owners, and delivered an emotional speech in what was one of the real people happiest racing moments of the year.
“It was a double win for Corrie today – his son Lean is marrying the best wife in the world and Alesian Chief won the Gr1,” added an emotional Emmie, as she pointed out sadly that there are still Grooms unemployed in the Northern Cape after the Flamingo Park debacle.
Muzi Yeni, who won the Listed Golden Loom Handicap at Turffontein in October last year on Alesian Chief, rode a cucumber cool race on the 2021 Gr3 Joburg Merchants champion.
Yeni was recording his second Gr1 strike in seven days after current Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite Safe Passage had won the Daily News 2000.
Owner Peet Boonzaaier was clearly over the moon, and it’s worth noting that he forecast the Gr1 success seven months ago when he labelled Alesian Chief ‘the best sprinter in South Africa’ after his Gr3 victory.
Alesian Chief (8-1) galloped powerfully all the way to the line, and despite a gutsy late challenge from fellow Gauteng raider Bartholdi (12-1) down the inside rail, he stayed on well to win by just over a half length in 67,84 secs – the quickest 1200m time of the afternoon.
Paul Peter’s consistent Smorgasbord (8-1) held form after his Drill Hall Stakes place credit with a good run in third.
Sean Tarry’s 2019 Golden Horse Sprint winner Chimichuri Run (33-1) is going strong at 6 and clinched fourth place ahead of fellow Gr1 winning stablemate Eden Roc.
The fancied Cosmic Highway appeared to be travelling well but came under pressure late to run out of the money.
Bred by Ambiance Stud, Alesian Chief has now won 5 races with 4 places from 12 starts for stakes of R875 000.
He is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the five-time winning VAR mare, All In The Mind. The win made it a Gr1 double on the afternoon for VAR, the broodmare sire, after Thunderstruck’s success in the Gold Medallion.
While his private purchase price is not recorded, Emmie La Grange thanked Cape breeder Spencer Cook for facilitating the purchase of Alesian Chief for what she described as ‘a good price’.
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