Glen Hatt pushes the Danehill Dancer filly Acrostar out to win the feature (Equine Edge)
Jockey Glen Hatt rounded off a terrific weekend at the office when he produced a flying finish on Sabine Plattner’s beautifully bred Acrostar to win the R150 000 Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes run over 1400m at Kenilworth on Sunday. The Australian bred daughter of Danehill Dancer improved dramatically on her recent form.
Hatt won the KRA Fillies Guineas at Greyville the previous day and rode a great treble over the two days.
Justin Snaith has become something of a Mike De Kock of the Cape. Any horse he throws a saddle over is seldom at any value and it was thus surprising to see Acrostar available at 18 to 1. Punter’s puzzlement was compounded by the partnership of the bang in form Glen Hatt. But most didn’t see this train smash coming as she paid R24,40 a tote win, with R6,40 a place.
Chris Snaith was on course deputising for his son and he instructed Hatt to drop the filly out. It was a winning decision in the end, with Acrostar’s prospects brightened by the field splitting into two groups turning for home.
She had been last into the straight but cut them down with a lovely burst.
Chris and Justin Snaith are a top team
Acrostar came charging through from lengths back to catch and beat the game Souk inside the 100m marker to win by a length in a time of 90,27 secs.
It was a great run from a bad draw by the winner, while apprentice Xavier Carstens rode a balanced finish and did everything right on Souk. The winner was just too good though.
The diminutive Supreme Sunset caught PE visitor Lielums on the line and ran into third.
Chris Snaith said the plan had worked out well and that they had always rated her.
“Mrs Plattner bought four in Australia. She gave us this one. She also bought some serious horses in Joburg last week. So this could be a turning point,” he smiled.
Snaith senior trained some top horses for Sabine Plattner in years gone by.
Glen Hatt indicated that he had not held out much hope going into first turn.
Owner Sabine Plattner
“I was so far back. But the draw actually played into my hands. We thought there would be a decent pace but you never know in Cape Town. Thanks to the Snaiths for their support,” he said.
While Snaith saddled the winner, his other two runners performed less auspiciously, to finish last and second last.
Fareed Anthony took a failed gamble on Snaith’s Jet Master filly Six Of The Best, who ducked wide out to the outside rail at the top of the home run.
Acrostar has won 2 of 7 starts with 2 places and R144 520 in prize money.
A $340,000 Inglis Easter purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, Acrostar is the first winner for GrI Tatts Winter Stakes winner Nova Star.
Nova Star has a yearling filly at foot by Encosta de Lago and was covered last spring by High Chaparral after missing the year before.
Acrostar is from the last Australian bred crop of foals by veteran sire Danehill Dancer.
