Stunning!

Stunning! Beach Beauty and Sean Cormack are poetry in motion (Equine Edge)

The outstandingly brilliant Dynasty mare Beach Beauty scored her fifteenth win and her fourth Gr1 victory when she overcame the odds of a poor draw to win the R1 million Klawervlei Gr1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday. The champion put the cherry on the top of a memorable summer for her trainer Dennis Drier and regular pilot, Sean Cormack.

Beach Beauty’s win was the second leg of a superb Gr1 double for stallion Dynasty and the third leg of a winning treble for the super sire on the day.

The story of yet another superb win for the dynamic mare is one that has been written many times previously and she once again left a sector with egg on their face after her ability to maintain her level of performance was questioned.

A poor draw, a flat spot in the final stages of her Paddock Stakes win, an ordinary looking third to Ice Machine in the Green Point Stakes.  All those facts lurked in the back of the mind as Beach Beauty lined up on Saturday.

Throw in the reality that hanging on to the tails of great horses is something that can be rewarding for punters and there are those that chose not to bank the obvious selection.

But despite hitting the flat spot at about the 400m on Saturday, Sean Cormack produced her from her forward position to win at 13 to 20 in a time of 98,16 secs.

The gallant Hammie’s Hooker stayed on 1,25 lengths behind for second, while the pacemaking Priceless Jewel showed courage to hang in for third. Mike De Kock’s Espumanti looked dangerous down the rail but had to be content with fourth place.

The Cape Fillies Guineas winner In The Fast Lane never fired and after running wide on the turn, finished just under six lengths back in ninth position.

The story of how Beach Beauty’s ownership, the Shanks Syndicate, came to being has been covered previously but is worth retelling.

Back in the early 1990’s John Bescoby had spare tickets for a race meeting.

He offered them to his staff. At the particular race day, a young lady named Ruth met Trevor Armitage’s son. They courted and married and had three daughters named Kate, Hannah  and Juliette.

Sadly Trevor’s son died and friends got together to form a syndicate in honour of his memory.

In his varsity days the young man’s nick name was shanks (apparently after the sanitary ware Armitage Shanks).

Beach Beauty, named by his daughter Kate, is the syndicate’s  first horse. The silks are based on the colouring of his favourite bird, the narina trogon.

Bred by Trevor Armitage Beach Beauty is by Dynasty out of the three-time winning Capture Him mare, Sun Coast.

Beach Beauty has run 27 times for 15 wins and 9 places and has now earned R4 409 953.

Her stakes tally stands at 4 Gr1’s, 5 Gr2’s and 1 Gr3.

There are no further words to describe the exploits of a horse like Beach Beauty.

Ed note: Excerpt from the Stipendiary Stewards report

a)            WELWITSCHIA (GB ( K Shea) was hanging out badly on the bend, which resulted in this mare racing wide and the bit pulled through her mouth at about the 900m. As a result WELWITSCHIA (GB) (K Shea) could not be assisted thereafter. The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the mare on her return to the unsaddling enclosure and submit a report.

b)            In view of the performances from RAZZLE DAZZLE ROSE (A Domeyer) (11.15 lengths) and REFLECTIVE IMAGE (G Hatt) (99.99 lengths), the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine these mares on their return to the unsaddling enclosure and submit a report.

c)            JET SUPREME (P Strydom) was hanging out badly from the 400m proving difficult to assist. In view of this report the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the filly on her return to the unsaddling enclosure and submit a report.