Louis Mxothwa threw the reins at And We Danced in the final strides to clinch a thrilling victory in a grandstand finish to the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Bracelet at Fairview on a lucky Friday 13th – for some!
The 4yo daughter of Ridgemont Highlands’ Sandown-based Pathfork (Distorted Humor) was celebrating her maiden stakes victory and made it five in a row when the ever improving recent dual Gr1-winning rider threw the kitchen sink at his mount, to withstand a spirited late threat from the 33-20 second favourite Santa Therese (Richard Fourie).
Louis Mxothwa drives And We Danced up on the outside to win a thriller (Pic Pauline Herman Photography)
In fact Mxothwa conceded that he had used a few hints once imparted to him by Fourie.
“Richard told me to put my whip away, put your head down and ride. That’s what I did. And We Danced dug deep for a top win,” he added.
And We Danced made all the running in the mile feature and when challenged late by the year older eleven-time winner, it looked like she would have to settle for second.
But And We Danced (1-1) is courage personified and she held on under an inspired and beautifully balanced ride to grab the verdict by a head in a time of 96,91 secs.
Watch the replay here!
The two dominated the race, with the runner-up’s third-placed stable partner Phoenix eight lengths away in third.
Bred by Andy Williams’ Worldwide Bloodstock, And We Danced is a daughter of former Irish champion, and Gr1 boylesports.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes winner Pathfork out of the once-winning Commands mare, Dance City Queen.
A winner of 7 races with 8 places from 21 starts, And We Danced races in the Andy Williams silks in partnership with Cape breeder David Hepburn-Brown and has banked stakes of R462 838.
She has certainly enhanced her paddock value with this eyecatching stakes score.
Victorious trainer Sharon Kotzen holds the bracelet as the ROA’s Marilyn Smith presents the beautiful trophy (Pic – Pauline Herman)
And We Danced’s victory was the second leg of a double on the day for trainer Sharon Kotzen and Louis Mxothwa after the fast emerging KZN sire New Predator’s son War Front won the second race on debut.
Leading trainer on the day was Hollywoodbets’ Gavin Smith, who saddled three winners.
The next East Cape racemeeting is on Friday 20 January.
