Close Call. Omaticaya (down the inside) gets the better of Princess Of The Sky to win the Jamaica Handicap (Equine Edge)
Trainer Glen Kotzen has trained some good horses over the years, but will probably be the first to admit that he has a particular knack when it comes to getting the very best out of fillies. He produced the goods with Silvano’s good daughter Omaticaya, who won the R150 000 Listed Jamaica Handicap run over 1700m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Omaticaya is a consistent 3yo who won her first stakes race in very good style and showed some of the guts and fighting spirit of the ill fated Jamaica, in whose honour the race is named.
The grey Pan Amm was taken to lead early from Antonia’s Fortress and Miss Saigon , with Luna De Victoria and Omaticaya further back.
Into the home run Pan Amm continued to gallop as challenges came from all round.
Grant Van Niekerk produced Princess Of The Sky with a power dash down the outside as Omaticaya went through down the the inside.
A determined Van Der Merwe rode for his life and he grabbed the initiative as Omaticaya won by a head in a time of 107,64 secs.
Another 3yo in the talented Princess Of The Sky, who started a weak favourite, pushed her opponent all the way to the line, while Luna De Victoria grabbed third after challenging late.
Jockey JP Van Der Merwe said afterwards that things had gone his way and that he had positioned Omaticaya in the box seat off the speed from her great draw.
Owner Peter De Beyer and his partner John Bryant have been fortunate with Silvano. Amongst others, they also won the 2009 Cape Fillies Guineas with his daughter Field Flower, who was trained by Stephen Page.
De Beyer said that consideration was still being given to Omaticaya’s participation in the Majorca Stakes on Met day. He quipped : “The older fillies this year are really quite awesome!”
Omaticaya, who races in the interests of two Cape stalwarts in Peter De Beyer and John Bryant, was bred by Myron Berzack and Brian Joffe (of Shea Shea fame) and is by Silvano out of the three time winning Jet Master mare, Whispering Jet.
She sold for R80 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Book 2 sale, and looks particularly shrewdly bought right now.
Omaticaya has been a model of consistency and has won 3 of her 6 starts with 1 place and earnings of R184 075.
Kotzen could have a very powerful hand in the Majorca Stakes on Met day with all of Jet Belle, Omaticaya and Masked Lady likely to run.
Purely for interest’s sake, the winner’s name is an intriguing one.
The Omaticaya clan is a Na’vi tribe of the forest. They formerly lived in a Hometree in one of Pandora’s huge jungles. The Omaticaya people are led by Jake Sully and Mo’at, and share a deep connection with the forest.
