The sublime skills of Belgian jockey great Christophe Soumillon lit up the first half of today’s big WSB Met meeting.
After converting favouritism on the Eric Sands-trained Carriacou in race 2, backed in from 6/1 to 5/2, he earned deserved Grade 1 status for the Mike de Kock-trained Desert Miracle.
Soumillon then made it three wins from three rides when winning the Listed City Of Cape Town Juvenile Stakes over 1100m on the Glen Kotzen-trained Rascova, who gave Lancaster Bomber his first stakes winner.
In the Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes over 1600m, the tall but beautifully balanced rider settled Desert Miracle in last place.
Last year’s narrow runner up Chansonette led and made a bee line for the outside fence in the straight.
She was in the same place last year and likely would have won if not drifting in late and opening the door for Captain’s Ransom.
Hot favourite Captain’s Ransom was not going to get past her on the outside this year, but she soon mastered the currently out of sorts Chansonette anyway.
However, Captain’s Ransom had tugged quite hard early on in the race and looked vulnerable.
Soumillon had sat behind the small field, who were all crammed up on the outside, for the first part of the straight.
However, when he switched her in she found an extra gear and it was soon clear she was going to overtake Captain’s Ransom.
The latter tried to fight back but her famous late surge was not there and she was beaten 1,25 lengths. Golden Hostess beat Silver Darling into third place and Ciao Bella was fifth of the six horse field.
De Kock spoke of how important this win was for owners Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, as her British-bred dam Welwitschia brought in the good overseas blood of Oasis Dream.
He thanked Mary Slack for her patience as the filly had promised much early on, but had had a few issues.
The last time she had run over the course and distance she was narrowly beaten as hot favourite in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas by Chansonette.
A debate raged afterwards on whether she had been an unlucky loser with some interference happening in the straight.
It is all water under the bridge now as she has at last gained that valuable Grade 1 status.
