The Big Six! Fairyinthewoods gets the the better of Agra and Via Africa to win the Southern Cross Stakes (Equine Edge)
Trainer Darryl Hodgson and owner Hassen Adams pulled off a giant killing act when the Count Dubois filly Fairyinthewoods won the R200 000 Tony Taberer Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday. The underrated flyer made a mockery of the handicapper’s ratings in the process.
The Duncan Howells trained Via Africa was all the rage and went off a red hot order as a popular exotic bet banker.
After having every chance, Via Africa was fairly and squarely beaten into third by Fairyinthewoods and Agra, and may have lost an element of her former invincibility.
Schiffer made the early running, tracked by Via Africa and Victorian Secret.
Fairyinthewoods was outpaced early and was relaxed one from last and about seven lengths off the pacesetters.
At the 400m marker Kevin Shea gave the 4 to 10 favourite Via Africa her head and she swept forward with Agra challenging down her inside.
In the dash for the line, Via Africa and Agra looked set to fight things out, but Grant Van Niekerk and Fairyinthewoods had both their numbers and the Adams filly took off late.
The 14 to 1 Fairyinthewoods won going away by 0,75 lengths in a time of 58,85 secs.
Agra ran on well under Piere Strydom in second, to hold Via Africa by 1,25 lengths
Winning jockey Grant Van Niekerk, who ended the day with five winners, said afterwards that Fairyinthewoods was ‘a classy filly’:
“When I saw Via Africa four lengths ahead of me about halfway, I knew we had a winning chance, Like Tom Queally stuck with Frankel, I hope they keep me on Fairyinthewoods!” he joked.
The other KZN visitors Franny (6,05 lengths) and Schiffer (8,70 lengths) ran disappointing races.
The Milkwood Stud bred Fairywinthewoods is by Count Dubois out of the twice winning Al Mufti mare, Woodland Fairy.
She cost R350 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
Fairyinthewoods has now won six(in a row) of her seven starts for stakes of R383 750.
Like Grant Van Niekerk suggested , it will pay punters to follow Fairyinthewoods
Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes (SAf-Gr2) Kenilworth, South Africa, December 7, R200k, 1000m, turf, good, 58.85FAIRYINTHEWOODS (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Count Dubois (GB) – Woodland Fairy (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA). Owner Mr H Adams; breeder Milkwood Stud; trainer DR Hodgson; jockey G v Niekerk Agra (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Trippi (USA) – The Taj (SAF) by National Assembly (CAN) Via Africa (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Var (USA) – Bump ‘n Grind (SAF) by Qui Danzig (USA)Margins: ¾, 1¼, 2
