David Thiselton
There was an upset in the Gr 2 TAB Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein Standside yesterday when the Sean Tarry-trained 14/1 shot Jerusalema Rain led from start to finish under a fine ride by Mickaelle Michel and managed to fend off the Tony Peter-trained 5/10 favourite Buffalo Storm Cody by a neck, with the Tarry-trained Cosmic Speed proving his suitability to sprints by running a head further back in third.
Earlier, the Alec Laird-trained Fire Attack proved his Hollywoodbets Durban July credentials by winning the Gr 2 TAB Colorado King Stakes over 2000m, despite carrying topweight, while The Sean Tarry-trained Callmegetrix won the Gr 2 TAB Igugu Stakes and later Tony Peter was able to make amends for Buffalo Storm Cody’s defeat by winning the Gr 2 TAB Camellia Stakes over 1160m.
The Senor Santa was not that much of an upset when considering Jerusalema Rain finished half-a-length behind the smart Questioning last time out over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville when receiving 7,5kg plus Michel’s 1,5kg gender claim (i.e. 9kg in all) and was now receiving 10kg from Buffalo Storm Cody with the gender claim not applying due to the race’s black type status. That is not to mention Jerusalema Rain’s smart juvenile form when trained by Ashley Fortune and mixing it with the like of Lucky Lad, Sandringham Summit and Main Defender.
Cosmic Speed only recceived 2kg from Buffalo Storm Cody, so proved himself capable of mixing it with the best over sprint trips, although Sean Tarry had said beforehand that this was a preparation race for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m.
Buffalo Storm Cody is the highest rated horse in the country on 132, so was officially 4kg better off than any other other runner.
However, the 100-rated Jerusalema Rain had found his form in Cape Town with Candice Bass at this time last year before moving up to the Tarry yard and he was clearly on the up again on the Highveld, so as he was once rated 109 he had plenty of room for improvement.
Cosmic Speed, rated 120, has had a high rating of 126 and his four previous sprints yielded two wins, a close second on debut to subsequent SA Nursery winner Fire Attack and a close second to stablemate Proceed in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion, so he too could have had a better chance in reality than his odds of 16/1 suggested.
Richard Fourie had actually stated before the race that he felt his chief threat was Jerusalema Rain.
The high draws appeared to be favourable on the day and Buffalo Storm Cody was drawn eleven out of 11.
Buffalo Storm Cody broke well, but none were better away than Jerusalema Rain from draw six.
He pinged the gate and with long strides he led but looked to be going within himself.
Buffalo Storm Cody was on the outside about three lengths back and Cosmic Speed was looking comfortable in the running just behind him on his inside.
Jerusalema Rain stretched further clear at the 500m mark but Buffalo Storm Cody got going at the 300m mark and ranged up looking the winner.
However, Cosmic Speed was also flying up on the inside of Jerusalema Rain.
Both challengers headed Jerusalema Rain, but the weight began to tell, while Jerusalema Rain stayed on to pip them.
Jerusalema Rain is by Captain Of All and was bred by Keivan Stud. This was his fourth career win and the first time he had earned bold black type.
In the Colorado King Stakes Fire Attack’s run in the Premier’s Champions Challenge could be ignored as he was caught wide and over-raced. The 124-rated Fire Away colt produced his usual strong finish from off the pace to beat Choisaanada, to whom he gave 3,5kg under the weight for age plus penalties conditions, by 0,60 lengths with The Ultimate King, Copper Eagle and Field Marshal next best, while Atticu Finch was a disappointing 5,75 length last.
Ealier in the Igugu Stakes the Vercingetorix filly Callmegetrix won her second Gr 2 of the seasson, having also prevailed in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Fillies And Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m. Yesterday she proved she gets a trip by staying on from a handy position to win the 2000m Igugu Stakes under Craig Zackey by a length from Minogue with the favourite Olivia’s Way staying on strongly late for a 1,10 length third.
In the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes the 96-rated three-year-old Perfect Miracle was Hawwaam’s second stakes winner and first Graded winner when landing the Gr 3 WSB Sycamore Sprint over 1160m last month and she followed up yesterday (Tuesday) under the same jockey Marco van Rensburg despite being officially the worst weight runner in the field. She was handy throughout and converted odds of 14/1, beating Rodeo Drive by 0,75 lengths with Rachel Wall next best.
It was a fine day for Craig Zackey and Sean Tarry, who both had four winners, three of them together.
Alec Laird scored a double on the day.
