Mike and Luella Robinson
A first feature winner for young apprentice Xavier Carstens and Jay Peg’s third stakes winner. That was the background to a smooth victory by the Mike Robinson trained Hot Affair in Saturday’s Listed Perfect Promise Sprint run over the Kenilworth 1200m.
Nine fillies lined up for the feature with Justin Snaith’s maiden Sapphire Gem going off favourite after two promising seconds.
Sapphire Gem and Hot Affair were quickly away and they carted the field along for 800m until Greg Cheyne cruised up on the wide outside on the Maine Chance Farms owned Heart Warming, who looked to be going very well.
Inside the final 400m Carstens pressed the button on Hot Affair and she moved forward as Heart Warming went one paced.
Going into the 200m Hot Affair was going too well and it was left to Perpetua and Elusive Stars to chase her.
Hot Affair won in a time of 72,36 secs and beat the strong running Perpetua by 1,75 lengths with Ronnie Sheehan’s Elusive Stars running on best of all to grab third cheque.
Owner Marsh Shirtliff had the confidence
Apprentice Xavier Carstens said afterwards that he was ‘very happy and excited.’
“She broke well and I let her stride. When she fought off Greg Cheyne’s horse down the outside at the 300m, I knew we had it won. I feel she will go on with it,” he said confidently.
Trainer Mike Robinson was naturally all smiles.
“I was happy with her debut run when she ran green. She certainly has come on from that. I don’t want to sound biased but she looked the best in the parade ring. She looks like a sprinter miler and I just want to add that I have so much confidence in this little apprentice,” he said.
Part owner Marsh Shirtliff, who raced Hot Affair’s sire Jay Peg, said that he had always had a bit of confidence. It was not clear if he was referring to his trainer or the filly.
Shirtliff then admitted that he had queried the jockey engagement, but was reassured by Mike Robinson that Carstens had done the work and that he was an up and coming youngster.
Hot Affair is Jay Peg’s third stakes winner and was bred by Nutfield Stud out of the Captain Al mare, Wild Liasion.
She has won 1 race from 2 starts and has banked R79 750.
She cost just R70 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2 and now heads for the Cape Fillies Nursery on 10 May.
No doubt young Xavier will be considered for the ride again and well done to Robinson for the initiative of using an apprentice out of belief in his ability, and not just for the mathematical advantage of a claim (which did not apply here).
