A triumphant Robert Khathi salutes as Sea Cat cruises in (Coastal Photos)
The late switch from turf to polytrack did nothing to stop the rampant Var filly Sea Cat from registering a facile victory in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Guineas run at Fairview on Friday. The only filly in the race left some red faced males floundering in her wake.
The R20 000 bargain buy was registering her second consecutive win after scoring in similar easy style in the Listed Breeders Fillies Guineas on turf at the same venue three weeks ago.
Prevented from leaving the Eastern Cape by AHS movement restrictions, Sea Cat was left in the care of Gavin Smith by trainer Paul Reeves, after that win.
Facing eight colts, she ran a cracker and never looked like getting beaten.
Allowed to settle a few lengths off the leader Gold Park, she glided up to cross swords with the smart Cape colt Cape Cutter and made him look ordinary as she drew away.
Trainer Paul Reeves (Hamish Niven Photography)
With Robert Khathi glancing nonchalantly from left to right, Sean Cat lengthened her stride to win easily.
Sea Cat beat the Snaith’s Captain Al colt Cape Cutter by 1,50 lengths in a time of 95,70 secs.
Paul Reeves was worried about the polytrack as his charge ‘had never even trotted on it before today.’
Reeves said it would probably be another month wait before he could return her to the Cape.
He thanked Gavin Smith for his hospitality and for looking after Sea Cat. Reeves arrived a week prior to the race.
Robert Khathi, who was aboard at her previous win, said that it was a facile win.
“She settled and I sat her three lengths off. She picked them off one by one. What a lovely filly,” he said.
Part owner Paul Barrett said that they ‘weren’t interested in the dollar signs’ and commended the hospitality and friendliness of the PE racing community.
“Everybody is so welcoming and so friendly here,” he said.
Bred by Pat and Dave Schafer’s Collingwood Stud, Sea Cat is by Var out of the USA bred Hansel mare, Hansea.
A winner in the USA, Hansea is the dam of winners in France, Italy and America.
Signed for at a bargain R20 000 by Paul Reeves Racing on the 2012 CTS Book 2 Sale, Sea Cat has won 4 of her 14 starts with 3 places and R335 950 in stakes.
She had an average KZN Champions Season last year and it will be interesting to see where they go with her from here.
Seems a pity not to let her win many more races in PE.
