The luck of the Irish was with RA member Mr M C Simmonds following his win with Irish Grace in a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1600 metres at Vaal Racecourse on 19 February. This four year old filly was bred at Glenellen Stud – Toreador (IRE) – Black Bird by Elliodor (FR). She was ridden by Jarryd Penny who has partnered her to a number of places before her first victory. Irish Grace is trained by Dianne Stenger.
Piere Strydom rode the Gauteng Guineas double under stormy skies at Turffontein on Saturday – piloting home Harry’s Son and Siren’s Call and putting the two three-year-olds in line for a tilt at the Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.
Multiple South African champion jockey and log leader in the current season, Strydom showed all his famous judgment of pace in nailing the three-year-old “classics” with two contrasting rides.
The filly Siren’s Call, trained by Sean Tarry, was delivered late and showed an impressive turn of foot in the final 50m. The colt Harry’s Son, on the other hand, was sent early – near the top of the straight – and kept on gamely under the encouragement of “Striker”.
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Artist Salvador Dali once said: “What is important is to spread confusion, not eliminate it.”
That might have worked for the Spaniard but confusion is not something punters crave. Hopefully all the mixed messages will be unbundled on Saturday when the three-year-olds line up for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track.
To add to the attraction of the meeting there is a R1.1-million Pick 6 carryover with an expected pool of R3.8 million and the good news is that TAB will be paying five places on the Gauteng Guineas.
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Mesdames I Lazarides & IP Nofal
& Messrs HD Lazarides & G Nichas
