Paarl-based Glen Kotzen has enjoyed a vintage season campaigning tirelessly in three different centres and the Woodhill Racing boss was in the feature winner’s enclosure again at Fairview on Friday when the 3yo Sweetie Darling found extra under Chad Little to win the R150 000 East Cape Breeders Stakes (F&M).
Chad Little gets low on Sweetie Darling, with 2nd and 3rd obscured, and 4th-paced Priscilla Maisey (Malesela Katjedi, blue cap) just making it into the photo (Pic – Pauline Herman)
With Ellorix dumping national log-leading apprentice Brevan Plaatjies at the gates and withdrawn, thirteen fairer sex gallopers jumped at the 1200m marker in the non black-type feature, with Sahara Cat and Lovegrass leading the stamped early.
Into the final stages, it came down to a three-cornered tussle, with Little extracting a little more out of the game 40-1 Sweetie Darling to beat the year older Montelena (20-1) by a short head in a time of 71,26 secs.
The mare Gimme’s Lass (5-1) loomed dangerously late, but was a neck back in third, with the 33-1 Priscilla Maisey completing the quartet.
The top four finished with 0,65 lengths of each other.
The favourite Splicethemainbrace finished a 33 lengths last and must have gone wrong in running. We shall await the Stipes report.
A R150 000 Cape Yearling Sale purchase, the winner was bred by Patricia Devine Investments and is by Royal Mo (Uncle Mo) out of the twice-winning Captain Al mare, Captain’s Darling.
Raced by Brendon and Ryan Fegen, Sweetie Darling has now won 4 races with 1 place from 13 starts for stakes of R435 913.
Up to this race riding honours were shared evenly, while Kelly Mitchley saddled a double.
The next Fairview racemeeting is on 27 June.
