Make it Snappy took out the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas (Grade 1) at a distance of 1600m, providing powerful jockey, Luyolo Mxothwa with his first G1 success.
Mxothwa cleverly dominated from the front, getting over from draw 11, lobbing along easily on the Dynasty filly, then quickening away from her closest pursuer, grey filly, Ciao Bella – the 2/1 favourite.
Deep-closer, Hold My Hand and Golden Hostess rounded off the order of finish, making belated moves into the headwind but they could not get close to the supremely fit, Brett Crawford trained winner on whom Mxothwa rode a textbook race. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said a stunned Mxothwa afterwards, with a broad, toothy smile.
Make it Snappy, out of Western Winter mare, Icy Winter Air was bred by Ridgemont Highlands. Placed on debut in a late August sprint – this was her third win on the bounce since shedding her Maiden tag as recently as October.
Just two weeks ago, she took care of business against older G1 performers, Marina and Chansonette over this same course and distance in a telling portend to this momentous victory. Despite her relative lack of seasoning, she did not lack for shrewd support in the betting market – initial quotes of 12/1 were halved by post time.
The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth course was firm with a stiff headwind blowing into runners when they entered the home straight. It was an especially strong program with the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas backed up by a Grade 2 contest and two Grade 3’s.
In earlier action, Trip of Fortune zipped through super-impressively on the grandstand rail in the World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes (Grade 2) over a mile to claim the honours and notch his seventh win from 13 starts. He was followed in by a resurgent Universal who just edged favoured Kommetdieding with Golden Ducat fourth in a quality WFA showdown.
Top class at three, then given time to develop both physically and mentally by patient horsewoman, Candice Bass Robinson, Trip of Fortune (supported from 25/s into 16/1) built on some excellent recent form since that layoff to produce a stylish career best as a four-year-old and prove that he is as adept at a mile than shorter cuts.
Universal kept going gamely at his second start since a long injury enforced rest (and gelding) to hold second. He is one to follow over mid distance races, whilst Kommetdieding, who was buffeted by the wind making his run down the exposed inside, was resolute but comprehensively outrun by boom sire Trippi’s son.
Proven Grade 1 winner, Princess Calla, sporting a big class edge, came to the fore over a distance short of her optimum in the wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes (Grade 2) over 1000m.
Gavin Lerena had the now- Sean Tarry trained mare powering through in the centre of the course to overhaul clear leader, Iphiko, with Stiptelik, Santa Maria and 5th placed Bella Chica all clustered at the wire within half a length of the sweet travelling daughter of Flower Alley.
The consistent, Princess Calla has won six of 16 starts, only once missing a place. Remarkably, she can sustain high level form from these 1000m dashes right up to 2000m. She started at 5/1 in an open betting race which duly produced a blanket finish. Trainer Tarry intimated that perhaps the Sceptre Stakes over 1200m could be her next mission.
Dynasty gelding Navy Strength showed that longer routes are his game when nabbing 25/1 outsider Master Redoute on the line in the Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap (Grade 3) over 2500m.
Trained by Justin Snaith and ridden with fine judgement by promising young pilot, Kabelo Matsunyane, the four-year-old came from midfield then launched a spirited bid on the outer to just get up at an SP of 17/2. Another light weight, Arctic Drift came on late to be third a length away and will stick to tests of endurance in future.
Written by Mark Van Deventer
Images: Wayne Marks
