Lucky Houdalakis-trained and Dave Shawe-owned Fire Away filly Egyptian Mau wins easily first time out under Craig Zackey (JC Photos).
The freshman sire championship is decided on stakes and not number of winners or wins but if the latter was the measure Fire Away would be in the lead.
The Wilgerbosdrift Stud-based sire was responsible for both winners of the two Juvenile Plate races at Thursday’s Turffontein Inside track meeting.
That took him to six individual winners and they have won seven races between them.
Interestingly the finish of the two races was dominated by freshman sires.
In the first of the Juvenile Plate races the Kobus Roux-trained Fire ‘N Flames stole a march under Dennis Schwarz after sitting behind the leader in the 1200m event.
The odds-on favourite was Pure Predator, who had become freshman sire New Predator’s fourth individual winner when successful on debut.
Watching his debut there was a fear that New Predator needed further than 1200m and so it proved as he was unable to go with Fire ‘N Flames and although he made late inroads he was beaten 1,10 lengths.
That was Fire ‘N Flames second win in six starts.
He was bred by Ascot Stud.
In the second of the Juvenile Plates the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Fire Away filly Egyptian Mau was backed from 13/2 into 2/1.
She is a half-sister to the touted Houdalakis-trained Rafeef colt Munchkin.
Two previous winners in Thursday’s race, Ice Star (William Longsword) and Global Thunder (Global View) started 5/2 and 3/1 respectively.
However, both of the latter began treading water from handy positions and Egyptian Mau, who had five lengths to make up at the 400m mark, ambled past them to win easily.
Egyptian Mau was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein.
In second place, running on after being outpaced, was Platina Princess, who is a daughter of another Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-based sire, Danon Platina.
Fire Away has lived in the shadows of Danon Platina at the Sales, but has outshone him so far at the Sales, although it is still early days.
