National Jockeys log leader S’Manga Khumalo’s six-timer at Turffontein on Saturday took him further clear in the title race, while Sean Tarry’s five-timer provided further proof he could dominate the National Trainers Championship for some time.
S’Manga Khumalo (Liesl King)
Tarry landed both Juvenile features on the card and said this was without doubt the best crop of two-year-olds he had ever had, at least as far as their performances in juvenile races had gone.
Tarry has won all six of the Juvenile Fillies races he has contested this season, with five different horses.
Var filly Exquisite Touch became the first of them on Saturday to land a feature and her 1,3 length victory in the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m looked effortless.
Tarry regarded Exquisite Touch as the standout of the Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale and felt fortunate to clinch her for only R350,000. Her Elliodor dam Lavender Sky’s four wins were all in the weaker centre of Port Elizabeth and she had not produced much from a few foals before Exquisite Touch, which perhaps explains the relative lack of interest from buyers.
The yard’s Trippi colt Flying Myth was workmanlike in winning the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m on his debut, but he did show pace and Tarry was not sure whether he would stay much further. This colt will likely be close to Tarry’s heart being out of the talented and speedy mare Mana Mou, whom he trained to five wins without her ever quite fulfilling her potential.
Both of Saturday’s juvenile feature winners were owned by Chris van Niekerk.
Sean Tarry (Liesl King)
Tarry’s other juvenile filly winners this season have been Water Lily Lake (Trippi), Cloth Of Cloud (Captain Al), Safe Harbour (Elusive Fort) and Kahula (Kahal).
He said it was too early to tell which route they would all take.
Tarry and Khumalo also won the Non-Black Type Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m on Saturday with the classy Western Winter colt Buckland.
He said, at least until gelding, Buckland would likely stick to 1200m and the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint was a possibility.
He added Kahal filly Intergalactic, who relished the Standside 1600m on Saturday, might take her chances in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m.
Tarry has had a couple of five-timers before, which is his record number of winners in one meeting.
By close of play on Sunday, Khumalo was ten winners clear of Anthony Delpech in the title race and he added 3 more winners at Flamingo Park yesterday.
By David Thiselton
