Candice Bass-Robinson celebrated a super start to the Cape summer at a bustling and vibrant Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday with her maiden victory in the traditional season opener, the R200 000 Gr3 Hollywoodbets Diana Stakes, a race won by her legendary Dad Mike back in 2015 with Inara.
Santa Maria charges clear under Corne Orffer (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
One of a trio of fairer sex gallopers for the Milnerton family team in the 1400m contest, Santa Maria wasn’t everyone’s idea of a popular winner, but produced the fireworks to win going away under Corne Orffer.
A Fairview stakes winner earlier this year, the lightly campaigned Santa Maria was easy to back at 14-1 and cruised past the heavily fancied Chansonette (14-10) to win by half a length in a time of 85,45 secs.
The winner’s stablemate Going Up (8-1) loomed up dangerously, but was just need it and ended up a gutsy third, a further 0,40 lengths adrift.
The lightly weighted 3yo Tipsy Tarragon failed to emulate the feat of her stablemate Captain’s Ransom of two renewals back, and faded out of contention after being prominent.
Yet another Drakenstein home-bred feature winner – the season has just started – Santa Maria is a 4yo daughter of the top farm’s champion Trippi (End Sweep) out of the once winning Fort Wood mare, Cutty Sark.
Santa Maria has won 5 races with 5 places from 13 starts for stakes of R402 150.
She is likely to be confined to the summer season sprints.
The Cape Racing and Hollywoodbets marketing efforts are clearly working and the efforts are reflected in the life and spirit on course. What a pleasure!
