Joey Soma’s high-class 3yo Fiery Pegasus will not be running in this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July.
She was withdrawn at 08h58 on Tuesday 20 May.
A winner of the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr2 SA Oaks at her last two starts, Fiery Pegasus galloped off with the Champion 3yo Filly award at Saturday evening’s Highveld Feature Season Awards, but will not see further action this season.
Fiery Pegasus will be rested (Pic – JC Photos)
Speaking to the Sporting Post on Tuesday, multiple Gr1 winning conditioner Joey Soma said that, while the connections were obviously very keen on taking their chances in the Champions Season arena with their top notch daughter of Captain Of All, a decision had been made collectively in her best interests to allow her time to grow and mature, and then return in the spring.
“The temptation is there but she owes us nothing and deserves her time to develop. She had a tough race in the Oaks and I honestly believe that she is just not where I’d like her to be right now. Taking on big boys in the hustle and bustle of the Durban July is not ideal. We had planned to take in the Gr3 Jubilee Stakes on Sunday 8 June at Turffontein, and then go straight into the Hollywoodbets Durban July. But we always do what’s right by our horses and she will have a nice break and come back as an exciting 4yo,” added Joey Soma, who apologised to those punters who had backed his stable star in the ante-post market.
Joey Soma (right) with nephew Gabriel Soma (Pic – JC Photos)
Asked why the Woolavington 2000 on Saturday was not an option, Joey said that ‘it was a combination of factors’.
“Firstly, we didn’t want to travel her twice to KZN. And the race is now a Grade 2. That’s still worth aiming at, but then that’s if it had not been opened to all ages. So the Jubilee was a better option, when the plan was still on to go to Hollywoodbets Greyville on 5 July. But that’s really all academic now and she will have a deserved break.”
A R300 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Fiery Pegasus was bred in partnership by Greenacres Trust and Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud and is a daughter of speed champion Captain Of All (Captain Al) out of the four-time winning Jet Master mare, Scorched.
She is raced in partnership by Messrs J R Blumberg,D Chinsammy,R G Coppin,E Naicker,B M Nassif, G, K & M M Nassif,Mr B & Mrs K Ncube,MGAS Bloodstock, Kisten Pillay Racing (Trevelen).
She has won 5 races with 4 places from 11 starts and has earned stakes of R1 636 250.
On Saturday in KZN, fifteen Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls step out.
Future Swing, Holding Thumbs, Marauding Horde and Shoot The Rapids will run in the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.
All of Beating Wings, Indian Ocean, Mocha Blend, Rainbow Lorikeet and Regeneration line up in the Tote Gr2 Woolavington 2000.
Six of the seven runners in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 are Hollywoodbets Durban July entries – Confederate, Eight On Eighteen, Native Ruler, Okavango, Parisian Walkway and Spumante Dolce make up the sextet.
- Second Hollywoodbets Durban July declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 9 June
- Final supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 17 June, on which date the weights will be published.
- Final field and draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 24 June.
- Don’t miss the Hollywoodbets Durban July public gallops on Thursday 26 June.
