The R500 000, Group 1 WFA South African Fillies Sprint(1200m) may have been billed as a showdown between brilliant three-year-old Princess Victoria and classy Ebony Flyer, but in the end the day belonged to Justin Snaith's Ebony Flyer, who stamped her authority on the race in no uncertain terms.
Photo by Liesl King
Chocolicious and State Blue were best away and contested the early lead, while Bernard Fayd'Herbe on Ebony Flyer was quite content to cruise at the back of the field. Princess Victoria under Sean Cormack also sat off the speed a length and a half off the leaders.
With 300m left, Anton Marcus sent Welwitschia into the lead up the outside rail, with Chocolicious chasing hard. Fayd'Herbe decided that he was bored of waiting and let the reins out a notch on Ebony Flyer.
The effect was electric, with the mare producing a tremendous turn of foot that saw her slicing through the field with consummate ease. With 50m to go Ebony Flyer cruised past a tiring Welwitschia, to win unextended by a length in 1.10.04. She's A Stunner (Robbie Fradd) flew up for third a further length back, with long time leader Chocolicious staying on for fourth.
Snaith commented afterwards that despite a second wind operation, the mare still only has about 70 percent air intake when racing, making her facile victory even more remarkable.
Another horse that has been plagued with problems, Delago Deluxe(AUS), winner of the Group 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion last season, made a triumphant return to the scene of that victory when grinding out a hard-fought victory in the R600 000, Group 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville.
Unannounced catapulted out of the gate and quickly led from Deliver The Power and Antious with Delago Deluxe tracking Unannounced and What A Winter shadowing his every move.
Tracking pacemaker and stable companion Unannounced for much of the race, the son of Encosta De Lago, who started at 8-1, quickened up smartly over the final furlong and although ducking out sharply from a right-handed stick he had enough in hand to hold off rank outsiders Snowdon and Shades Of Indigo with Copper Parade in fourth.
The distances were a 1.25L, 0.10L and 0.10L, with a winning time of 1.09.81.
Top weight What A Winter was given every chance, but failed to quicken when asked while stable companion Castlethorpe(AUS) made steady progress up the centre of the track, but never got in a blow.
Delaogo Deluxe, by Encosta De Lago out of the Flying Spur mare Succeeding, notched up win number seven from 11 starts for owners Mrs I Jooste and Mr M J Jooste.
