The former Cape-based Horse Chestnut filly Miss Smarty Pants has thrived in KZN and made it a hat-trick of victories with a smooth win in the R130 000 River Indigo Handicap at Greyville on Sunday.
Miss Smarty Pants stretches clear under Keagan de Melo (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
Keagan de Melo is riding with great confidence and he followed up on his Gr2 Premier Trophy success at Kenilworth on Guineas Day 24 hours earlier with a well taken treble – two of his winners were for the Dean Kannemeyer team, who saddled Miss Smart Pants.De Melo also rode a winner at Greyville on the poly on Friday evening to make it a weekend haul of five strikes.
Sean Tarry’s Celestina made the pace in the non black-type 1400m turf feature before succumbing to a sustained challenge from Miss Smarty Pants, who drew clear to beat the rested Arianos Shadow by 2 lengths in a time of 84,50 secs.
The stakes placed Twice As Smart stayed on nicely from off the gallop to gain third a further quarter length back.
The favourite Dawn Calling was in the firing line but faded out to run five lengths back. She was reported to have suffered heat strike and post-race distress.
Bred by Ian Longmore, Miss Smarty Pants is a daughter of the ill-fated Horse Chestnut (Fort Wood) out of the twice winning Strike Smartly mare, Smart Colleen.
A R140 000 CTS March Yearling Sale graduate, Miss Smarty Pants took her win tally to 5 with 7 places from 14 starts and stakes of R378 950.
