Strong Scent gets the better of the fancied Cat And The Moon (Coastal Photos)
A conflict of preferences and vested interests, that will require some astute management by Phumelela and the National Horseracing Authority, led to a much debated switch of the scheduled Fairview Friday turf meeting to the polytrack.
With a spate of withdrawals and jockey changes, the eight race programme was adversely affected, with a few upset results along the way, to make it a tough day all round.
Whatever anybody may think, PE racing makes no friends with these sideshows, and the locals can be thankful that punters (and some owners), are forgiving creatures by their very nature.
The background to the events that led to the surface switch are covered here.
Jockey Club Stakes
The eight race programme was headed by the R150 000 Listed Jockey Club Stakes run over 2000m, and with the late withdrawal of National Forest, the field was reduced to ten runners.
Justin Snaith – saddled the favourite – but no luck in PE so far
Justin Snaith’s recent dual Cape stakes winner Cat And The Moon, was a warm order at even money, with plenty of interest in her stablemate Gift Of Rain, despite the latter looking a better bet on the originally targeted kinder turf track.
After Rare Stone led Lucky Lear and Gift Of Rain, with the fancied Cat And The Moon relaxed in fourth, the field spun into the short home straight as Cat And The Moon coasted into the lead down the inside.
Under a confident seat from heavyweight rider Bernard Fayd’herbe, the well-performed Snaith filly looked a winner inside the distance, only to be cut down in the final stages by a storming late dash on the outside from the Dorrie Sham-trained Strong Scent.
JP van der Merwe – this could be his season
The often maligned, but very talented, JP van der Merwe rode a cracker to sit just off them and strike at the right moment, and the young rider has made a really decent start to his new season with five winners to date.
Strong Scent won well by a half length in a time of 124 secs.
Assistant trainer Rocky Agrella did the saddling honours, with the Shams at home – Mark recovering from an eye operation.
The Snaith PE new season icebreaker failed to materialise and they will have to wait for another meeting, as August rendered a nil return for the former SA champion yard.
The 25-1 shot Dream To Reality stayed on into third, with the paddock-bound Lucky Lear grabbing fourth.
Gift Of Rain was given every chance by Andrew Fortune, but ran last – she is definitely worth another chance on a forgiving turf track.
A relatively lightly raced 6yo daughter of the ill-fated Kabool, the victorious Strong Scent has earned R317 275 and took her career win tally to 5 victories from 23 starts with 6 places.
Strong Scent originally raced in the famous Oppenheimer yellow and black silks in the care of trainer Robbie Sage in Gauteng.
She won her maiden at the Vaal as a 3yo but has proven a revelation in the Eastern Cape where she has won a further four races. She also boosted her paddock value here with a smart stakes win.
Great Family
Dorrie Sham – nice double
Bred by Mauritzfontein, Strong Scent is by Kabool, who hailed from one of the greatest families in the modern day stud book. He died in February 2014.
An exceptionally well bred horse, Kabool was one of 39 stakes winners sired by Blushing Groom horse Groom Dancer. He achieved a Timeform rating of 119.
Retired to stud, a son of Groom Dancer, Kabool began his stud career in France where he sired the smart performer Kandidate, a ten time winner.
Kabool began shuttling to stud in South Africa in 2001, where he spent his first few seasons at Avontuur
His daughter Strong Scent is out the twice winning Strike Smartly mare, Cuir De Russie.
Trainer Tara Laing, fresh back from a Mauritius holiday, saddled a lovely treble on the day, while Dorrie Sham registered a double.
Jockeys Raymond Danielson and Teague Gould rode a double apiece.
