Supreme Sunset (Grant Van Niekerk) beats Nonki Poo (JP Van Der Merwe) in a tight finish (Coastal Photos)
After finding things tough going down in the Cape recently, the Mike Bass-trained 4yo Supreme Sunset took to the Fairview polytrack like a fish to water with a smooth win in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes at Fairview on Friday.
The daughter of Western Winter is probably best remembered for dishing up a shock and giving Majmu 7,5kgs and a 1,50 length beating in the 2014 Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge.
And while her form has tapered off since achieving that career high (and an MR of 101), she carried her top weight of 60kgs like a professional at her first run on the poly.
The meeting, originally scheduled for the turf, but switched to the artificial surface, produced its fair share of surprises – but Supreme Sunset had her loya supporters and went off at 4 to 1.
Grant Van Niekerk – riding well
Grant Van Niekerk was aboard after his well-taken hat-trick at Kenilworth on Wednesday, and he rode a cool race from some way off them.
The ex-Paul Lafferty runner Goldie Coast was taken to a commanding lead by S’manga Khumalo and scooted three lengths clear of Varster, Not Sulking and Dinesen, with Supreme Sunset relaxed on the rail about seven lengths off the pace.
Into the home stretch Goldie Coast continued to gallop and looked to have no intention of stopping, as Not Sulking faded quickly, with challenges coming from Nonki Poo and Supreme Sunset.
Into the final 200m, Supreme Sunset came forward strongly as Nonki Poo ghosted down the inside of the tiring Goldie Coast.
But in an exciting drive to the line Supreme Sunset ran on best to hold off the gallant Nonki Poo by 0,25 lengths in a time of 95,26 secs, and made it a 1-2 for Cape raiders.
The 33-10 favourite Goldie Coast ran a further length back in third after running prominently the whole way, and fading late.
The two major disappointments were Eros’s Girl and the former Woodruff runner Not Sulking, who filled the last two places.
Supreme Sunset was bred by Luke Bailes, in whose yellow and red silks, she races.
She is a daughter of Western Winter out of the four-time winning Royal Chalice mare, Supreme Duel.
This was her second stakes victory and fourth win overall, with 7 places from 21 starts.
She took her stakes earnings to R496 450.
Stallone Naidoo was the most succesful rider on the afternoon with two winners, while Yvette Bremner saddled a double.
