Trainer Mike Bass continued his great run in feature races when Hammie’s Hooker recorded her second consecutive win in the R250 000 G2 Tibouchina Stakes at Greyville on Saturday.
It was the tenth career victory for Hammie's Hooker, coming at the expense of the younger local champion Same Jurisdiction.
A triple G1 runner-up, Hammie’s Hooker has had the misfortune to bump the likes of Rumya and Beach Beauty at their peak going right back to her sophomore season when she was pipped for the title of Champion 2YO filly by the outstanding sprinter All Is Secret.
However she has managed to win two G2 races and has now notched up an impressive 10 wins and 13 places from her 29 starts.Bernard Fayd’herbe has enjoyed a profitable relationship with Hammie’s Hooker and has been aboard at nine of her ten victories.
- Punta Arenas had to overcome a wide draw in the Cup Trial but ran on strongly from near the back of the field to book his place in the Durban July, winning by 1,25 lengths.Wild One, stepping out for the first time since his G1 Gold Cup second place at the end of last season, ran a cracker to finish second while the favourite Kochka shortened stride in the final stages and his three-length fifth might not be enough to climb into the July field.
- The Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m was won by the Mike Azzie-trained colt Rabada.He showed signs of inexperience but still streaked clear to win impressively by 3,25 lengths under Anton Marcus.
- The Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m saw the Neil Bruss-trained filly Flying Ice improve from her debut win at Scottsville two weeks earlier to remain unbeaten under Weichong Marwing.- The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained colt Belong To Me looked lean and mean before the running of the Durban Dash over 1100m on the polytrack for three-year-olds and duly won well under Donavan Mansour.
