Bouclette Top goes all the way under Weichong Marwing to hold the strong finishing Tiger Territory to a half length (Pic-JC Photos)
A top-class display of pacesetting race-riding by Weichong Marwing would have given Alec Laird’s Argentinian-bred BoucletteTop a major confidence booster for the Highveld Season as he went all the way in first-time blinkers to win the R150 000 Listed Drum Star Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.
A highly-rated 3yo, there was much joy in the Laird camp after Bouclette Top won the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes early in 2014, as it had been some time since they had trained a good horse for Mary Slack.
But things didn’t quite pan out as enviaged for the handsome galloper in the ensuing year, and Saturday was to be his first winning performance since then.
Weichong Marwing – peach of a ride
A good draw and blinkers, coupled with the precision pace judgement of Marwing was the winning recipe as the gelding built on his recent very decent third place behind Sabadell in the Wolf Power 1600. Punters were spot on as they backed him into 18 to 10
Out of the stalls like a flash, Bouclette Top led Assegai and Rushmore River from the 1800m start until the 400m where he gunned again as they floundered in his wake.
With 250m to run it was clear that Bouclette Top was not stopping and he ran all the way to the line to win unchallenged by a half-length in a time 110,42 secs.
The perennial chasers faded out and it was left to Tiger’s Retreat to run on stoutly from out of the chasing pack to maintain his consistency in second, with Lockheed Jetstar staying on into third after appearing to find things tight for galloping room from about the 300m marker.
Mary Slack – her promising 3yo could yet redeem himself
The fancied Rushmore River (33 to 10) was always in touch under the bang in-form Anthony Delpech but faded out and ran sixth 4,10 lengths behind the winner in a disappointing showing.
Bred in Argentina by Firmamento, Bouclette Top is a 4yo gelded son of Storm Cat stallion, Giant’s Causeway, out of the four time winning Gr1 winning Honour And Glory mare, Bouclette Glory.
He has now won 4 races with 7 places from 16 starts and stakes of R628 000.
On the evidence of this mini revival, this talented fellow could pay to follow.
