The R200 000, Grade 2 Graham Beck Memorial Sceptre Stakes(1200m) is held in rememberance of Graham Beck, who as champion breeder and owner was a lifelong supporter of Cape Racing.
Photo by Liesl King
His famous brown and white silks graced the back of many a champion, including the likes of Bush Telegraph, Free My Heart and Dancer's Daughter.
And it was none other than a granddaughter of Bush Telegraph, the Mike Bass trained Covenant, who successfully defended her crown in the Sceptre Stakes at Kenilworth on Monday.
The smart three-year-old Captain Al filly, Trinity House, was all the rage at 2/1, but four-year-old Covenant was a close second in the betting at 5/2.
Karl Neisius rode a very patient race on Covenant, sitting quietly in midfield, while Trinity House, with a 3.5kg weight advantage on the field, tried to make every post a winning one.
At the 400m mark, Dance With Al and Barcelona Winter launched attacks up the outside, causing Trinity House to briefly lose, and then regain the lead.
With 200m to go, the field fanned out across the track, and with daylight in front of him Neisius asked the question. Covenant changed gears and took off after Trinity House, reeling her in with every stride.
In the end the mare did exactly what was required as she crossed the line 0.75L in front of Trinity House, with Barcelona Winter in third a further 1.75L back.
“I wasn't confident that we could get past Trinity House but she quickened up nicely. She has never been out of the first four and she is a wonderful filly to ride”, said Nesius
“She is an easy filly to settle in a race. Early on in her career she use to tug a bit, but now she settles nicely” he added.
Photo by Liesl King
“She is a beautiful looking filly and she is ultra-consistent. She is very easy to train and has the sweetest temperament. After the Sceptre double, she will now have crack at the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes (1600m) on Met day, a race she also won in 2011. She is carrying quite a bit of condition and she will certainly strip fitter after this race” commented Candice Robinson, deputising for her father Mike Bass.
Covenant, by Western Winter out of the Bush Telegraph mare Secret Pact, recorded her seventh victory in a time of 70.43 seconds for owner breeders, the Kalmansons' of Varsfontein Stud, thereby taking her earnings to R979 085.
