The 2017 Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Green Plains finally recaptured her winning game almost a year after winning the big one when she skated clear of her field to capture the R400 000 Gr2 Camellia Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
S’manga Khumalo is a passenger as Green Plains storms home (Pic – JC Photos)
The lightly raced daughter of Gimmethegreenlight has gone close – she was runner-up to Brave Mary in the Gr1 Allan Robertson last term, but didn’t flourish on her Cape Summer Season trip.
Back at home and in fine fettle and a stronger galloper as a 3yo, she spreadeagled her field to register an easy win and restore some sanity on a tough day for punters – and for her champion trainer!
S’manga Khumalo always had Green Plains in touch s Spring Wonder and Winter’s Forge led the way.
At the 300m she was unleased and Green Plains put a few lengths between herself and the rest to beat stablemate Myfunnyvalentine by 4,40 lengths, with the speedy Winter’s Forge staying on well for third a head back.
In a good race for Sean Tarry, he saddled first, second and fourth, with the lesser fancied Tahini edging into fourth.
The popular favourite Green Pepper was never in the hunt and ran stone last. The Stipes Report is awaited as her run was too bad to be tru.
A R350 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate, Green Plains took her win tally to 4 with 4 places from 11 starts for stakes of R896 250.
Bred by Gary Player Stud, she is a daughter of exciting young sire Gimmethegreenlight out of the one-time winning Jet Master mare, Savannah Leigh.
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Gr2 Camellia Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, May 5, R400k, 1160m, turf, good, 1.06.38
1 – GREEN PLAINS (SAF), 59.5, b f 3, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Savannah Leigh (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner Mr C J H Van Niekerk; Breeder Gary Player Stud; trainer SG Tarry; jockey S Khumalo
2 – Myfunnyvalentine (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Captain Al (SAF) – Give Me Five (SAF) by Goldkeeper (USA)
3 – Winter’s Forge (SAF), 58.5, b f 3, Western Winter (USA) – Forge Ahead (SAF) by Parade Leader (USA)
Margins: 4.40, 0.10, 1.90
