South African Fillies Sprint (Grade 1)

THE Richard Fourie-Sean Tarry big race combination were in almost unstoppable form at Scottsville’s Day of Speed last Saturday when they took three of the four six-furlong Group 1 sprints.

Particularly impressive was Princess Calla who started odds-on for the South African Fillies Sprint and came away from two furlongs out to win pulling up, and by more than three lengths, from the Mike de Kock-trained Empress Club Stakes winner Desert Miracle

It could hardly have looked much easier, although Fourie reported: “She showed her typical black spot.”

“I thought only luck in running could beat her,” added Tarry who is now considering stepping up the Maine Chance-bred Flower Alley filly to a mile for the Garden Province at Greyville on Durban July day. “If we flip a draw then why not?”

Gold Medallion (Grade 1)

LUCKY Lad, bred by the Varsfontein Stud and by their resident stallion Gimmethegreenlight, carries the colours of Gainesway Farm owner Anthony Beck and took his unbeaten run to four with a staggering five length-plus win in the Gold Medallion.

He went clear over a furlong out and came right away to win pulling up despite drifting in towards the rails in the closing stages.

A very dark bay - as near black as makes no difference - but with a lot of white on his face, he is now unbeaten in four starts and looks worth much more than the R850,000 he cost at the National Yearling Sale.

“He was very green,” reported Richard Fourie of the odds-on favourite, he rode the colt on an unusually long rein. “He ran in quite badly and I had to keep shouting at him to keep the momentum going.”

But Tarry had no doubts, saying: “I think he is a natural, a top horse and high class.”

Allan Robertson Championship (Grade 1)

THE inappropriately-named Mrs Geriatrix (by Vercingetorix) proved much too strong for hot favourite Winter Cloud in the Allan Robertson Championship for two-year-old fillies, going to the front over a furlong out and coming away to win comfortably by more than two lengths.

Sean Tarry reflected: “It’s very hard to go to the sales and hope to buy a Group 1 horse but this one is perfect, well balanced and very athletic. Every run has been impressive and I was very confident today.”

Golden Horse Sprint (Grade 1 Handicap)

THE one that got away was Thunderstruck in the Golden Horse Sprint, the only handicap among the Group 1s.

But this colt was beaten less than a length by 18/10 favourite Gimme A Prince who came with a strong run to lead well inside the final furlong in the fastest time of the day.

Gimme A Prince, a Gimmethegreenlight gelding owned and bred by Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, went through the ring at R2.7 million as a yearling.

He carried 60kg and gave weight all round, much to the delight of Dean Kannemeyer who also trained the dam Real Princess to win the SA Fillies Sprint seven years ago.

Rider Keagan de Melo, 30 winners clear of Fourie at the head of the table, admitted: “This horse is phenomenal and very special to me – the fact that he can win off 60k is a testament to his ability - and when you win races like the Golden Horse you have to pinch yourself.”