It was a plan come together for the two ‘Geoffs’ when progressive Var filly Schippers showed she is destined for bigger and better things as she powered home to win the R250 000 Gr3 Magnolia Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.
Gavin Lerena and Schippers are under no pressure at the finish (Pic – JC Photos)
The anticipated complexity and anticipated sting in the tale of the fillies and mares 1160m handicap never came to haunt punters as the popular 4-1 Schippers stormed home with ease to give owner Geoff van Lear and trainer Geoff Woodruff a realistic Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint prospect for 2019.
Relaxed early under Gavin Lerena as Ouro and Winter’s Forge went fast, Schippers turned up the heat at the 200m and after getting the better of a brief threat or two, drew clear to register 66.57 secs for the 1160m and beat the improved again Ouro by a convincing four lengths.
Kissable shows plenty of pace and banked third cheque a further 0,75 lengths away with Pretty Penny well beaten in fourth.
Bred and raced by Cape-based owner Geoff van Lear, Schippers is a daughter of hot form sire Var (Forest Wildcat), who had three winners on Saturday, out of the four-time winner Fair Rosalind (Count Dubois).
She has won 5 races with 4 places from 11 races for stakes of R537 350.
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Gr3 Magnolia Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, December 1, R250k, 1160m, turf, good, 1.06.57
1 – SCHIPPERS (SAF), 55.5, ch f 4, Var (USA) – Fair Rosalind (SAF) by Count Dubois (GB). Owner Mr Geoffery van Lear; Breeder G van Lear; trainer GV Woodruff; jockey G Lerena
2 – Ouro (SAF), 55.0, b f 4, Toreador (IRE) – Gold Lass (SAF) by Goldkeeper (USA)
3 – Kissable (SAF), 58.5, b f 4, Antonius Pius (USA) – Kiss For Kate (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
Margins: 4.00, 0.75, 1.80
