Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Mother Russia rules

Andrew Harrison
Mother Russia is possibly the most valuable piece of horse flesh in the country. The daughter of Windrush hammered the opposition in the Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes (Gr 1) at Turffontein yesterday, at a meeting postponed from a wet Saturday.
The win was not unexpected, Mother Russia was deep in the red, but there were concerns that a tough summer campaign, which included a trip to the Western Cape, would blunt her edge . But the conditions of this race beckoned invitingly and trainer Mike de Kock could not resist the temptation. It was the right decision, but there were signs that Mother Russia is due a rest. Cruising into the lead 500m out, Prestic tried to make a race of it but Anton Marcus switched his stick inside the final furlong and the favourite responded like a champion to slap down the challenge and eventually win quite comfortably. Mother Russia races in the black silks of Mary Slack’s Wilgebosdrift Stud that paid well over six figures to acquire the filly who previously raced in the silks of Klawervlei Stud for trainer Joey Ramsden.
If there were any doubts about the ability of the Gary Alexander-trained Pierre Jourdan, they were dispelled in the Gauteng Guineas (Gr 2), one of the day’s four supporting features, as he slipped through up the inside rail and went on to win as he liked from Havasha and Galileo’s Galaxy.
A relatively cheap R60 000 purchase from the Emperor’s Palace Ready to run sale, the Summerhill Stud-bred son of Parade Leader took his career earnings to over R1,5 million with the prospect of the Triple Crown and a further R2 million bonus in the offing should he land the SA Classic and SA Derby.
Galileo’s Galaxy pinched an early lead in the straight but was soon under pressure from Havasha. However, Pierre Jourdan under Derek David, sneaked up almost unnoticed up the inside rail and went on to win with lengths to spare.
In the Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Gr 2), the hitherto unbeaten Sidera surrendered her clean sheet rather tamely. Backed in to odds-on, she was never travelling well as stable companion and eventual winner Fisani spoilt her afternoon, dropping back on her all the time on the turn with Sidera never comfortable.
In the straight, Generous Anna, who had been tracking the favourite throughout, slipped through up the inside as Sidera went backwards and looked to have it in the bag as she went past leader Fisani who appeared to be one-paced. However, Fisani kept finding under Gavin Lerena and came back at Generous Anna and the two came together inside the final furlong with Fisani eventually wearing down her opponent to win going away. Generous Anna just kept on long enough to hold off Alderry and Here To Win to give trainer Mike de Kock first third and fourth but with the stable elect out with the washing.
Pierre Jourdan and Fisani gave Summerhill Stud a Guineas double with Havasha also a product of the country’s champion breeders.

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