Gibraltar Blue, despite not being at her peak, gave the boys a galloping lesson in the R200 000 Grade 3 Johannesburg Spring Challenge (1450m) at Turffontein in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Photo by Gold Circle
The mare went down to the start very fresh and jockey Anthony Delpech had his hands full, keeping her under control. The daughter of Rock of Gibraltar jumped cleanly and once racing she settled down to business, to lead the race from start to finish.
Bulsara missed the jump and settled at the rear of the field, while Lochlorien chased Gibraltar Blue's tail, followed by Winking Jack and Captain Key.
The five year-old mare however had the measure of the field and when Delpech sent her on her way at the 400m mark, she accelerated quickly to lead by five lengths.
Jet Jamboree chased hard up the outside, but he had no answer to the flying filly, who cruised home under a hands and heels ride, easing down to win by 2.75 lengths. Two Tone and Winking Jack filled the other minor places.
Delpech was full of praise for the mare: “She's a super star, she is so quick. She was cruising in front and at the 400m I sent her and she was on her bicycle. She has such a top cruising speed, she can bowl in front and still kick on at the 400. She is all class, true class.”
“She has come back very well, she is stronger and bigger than when she was four, we might have a crack at the November Handicap, but her main aim is the Queen's Plate down in Cape Town”, added De Kock.
Gibraltar Blue has now recorded 7 wins from 13 starts and is owned by Club Klawervlei.
Class filly, Welwitschia, made it a quick Spring Challenge double for Mike de Kock and jockey Anthony Delpech as she powered away to win the R165 000 Grade 3 Johannesburg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge (1450m) by 2.25 lengths.
Photo by Gold Circle
Carey's Qui jumped well and scooted clear by a couple of lengths, while Flirtation jumped awkwardly and Dancewiththedevil settled in her usual position at the rear of the field.
Rounding the final bend Carey's Qui was still in the lead, with Engagement in second and Welwitschia in third. At the 300m mark, Delpech pushed the button and Welwitschia cruised past Carey's Qui and quickly opened up 2 lengths on the field.
Dancewiththedevil came flying up the outside late, but the five length deficit was too much for the speedy filly and she had to settle for second, 2.25 lengths back, with Engagement and Carey's Qui hanging on for the minor places.
De Kock attributed her improvement to the fact that the filly had caught up with her Southern Hemisphere counterparts. He added that she was likely to stay over the sprint distances for the time being, although she may get a mile in future.
Welwitschia has now recorded three wins from five starts and is owned by Mary Slack's Wilgerbosdrift Stud.
Final Results for the Johannesburg Spring Challenge
No Horse Jockey Kg Dist Time SP
11 GIBRALTAR BLUE (IRE) Anthony Delpech 57.5 0.00 85.81 11/10F8 JET JAMBOREE Piere Strydom 59.5 2.75 86.31 11/2
3 TWO TONE Juan Paul V'D Merwe *0.0 60.0 3.25 86.40 14/14 WINKING JACK Gavin Lerena 60.0 8.50 87.37 20/1
6 CAPTAIN SCOTT Chad Little 60.0 9.00 87.46 40/12 REBEL KNIGHT Weichong Marwing 60.0 9.50 87.56 33/10
Final Results for the Johannesburg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge
No Horse Jockey Kg Dist Time SP
8 WELWITSCHIA (GB) Anthony Delpech 58.5 0.00 86.47 12/10F1 DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL Gavin Lerena 60.0 2.25 86.88 15/10
3 ENGAGEMENT Fanie Chambers 60.0 2.50 86.93 20/1
4 CAREY'S QUI Piere Strydom 59.5 3.00 87.02 10/1