Grant Van Niekerk pushes Lanner Falcon out as Petty Officer (Karl Neisius) battles on for second (Pic: Bay Media)
The Drakenstein Stud-bred Trippi filly Lanner Falcon finally got her act together when scoring her first stakes win with a fluent performance in Saturday’s R150 000 Listed Ladies Mile at Kenilworth.
The Mike Bass-trained 4yo chestnut galloper has always had plenty of ability, but has bumped some really good sorts – like when she chased the smart In The Fast Lane home in the Gr1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas of her year.
Her nine opponents on Saturday looked very beatable though and she made no mistakes with a well deserved victory.
The Snaith mare Jet Supreme ruined her chances as she reared at the jump and lost many lengths, having her starting stall certificate withdrawn.
Outsider Can Cope led Petty Officer and Star Jet, with Lanner Falcom relaxed in midfield about four lengths off the lead.
Knowing his fillies’ pace limitations, Karl Neisius sent Petty Officer early at the top of the straight and the daughter of Royal Air Force grabbed a length and continued to gallop powerfully at the 250m marker.
But Grant Van Niekerk knew what he had under him as he gave Lanner Falcon her head.
As Petty Officer dashed for home, she had no answers to the late flourish of the popular 17-10 shot Lanner Falcon, who breezed on by and went on to win by a half length in a time of 101,82 secs.
The winner’s stablemate Alascan Maiden ran on into third, to maintain her consistent form profile.
The Drakenstein bred Lanner Falcon is a daughter of Trippi, out of the USA bred French Deputy mare, Hosta. This is a Gr1 winning family and Lanner Falcon should make a lovely broodmare.
She has won 6 races with 5 places from 24 starts for stakes of R799 175.
Drakenstein also bred the winner of the Winter Derby on the same afternoon when another Trippi in Liquid Mercury won a cracker for Joey Ramsden.
