Shingwedzi(Grant Van Niekerk) catches She’s A Pippa to win going away (Coastal Photos)
The well bred Trippi filly Shingwedzi was all the talk at Fairview on Friday. Mike Bass’ 3yo was backed to a 15 to 20 favourite and she duly obliged by winning the R80 000 Riverton Stud Oaks Plate run over the Polytrack 1800m.
Grant Van Niekerk was aboard again after her excellent second a fortnight earlier to the smart Sea Cat in the Listed Breeders Guineas.
The opposition that she faced on Friday included the Snaith’s She’s A Pippa, but Shingwedzi dealt with all comers, as well as the potentially awkward switch from turf to poly.
In a field of eight, Muzi Yeni took Mitch Wiese’s Maroofa out at breakneck speed to make the pace and she led Bride’s Dowry and with She’s A Pippa in touch in third.
Grant Van Niekerk rode a confident race
Into the home straight Maroofa faded quickly as Richard Fourie took She’s A Pippa up to lead.
The daughter of Var looked all over a winner, but she had no answer in the final 200m as Shingwedzi swept on by and ran on powerfully to win by 0,25 lengths in a time of 109,78 secs.
She’s A Pippa was full value for a game effort and was not disgraced in second, while the former De Kock runner Ado Annie ran on well a further 2,50 lengths away in third.
Shingwedzi has now won 3 of 7 for 2 places and R176 175 in stakes.
The beautifully bred Shingwedzi is owned and was bred by Drakenstein Stud.
A daughter of Trippi, she is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare, Buffalo Dance. The latter is a half sister to French champion filly, Bright Sky.
Her progeny to date have not set the tracks alight, but Shingwedzi looks to be capable of changing all of that.
