Asiye Phambili converts meeting banker status under Richard Fourie (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Cape Racing
ASIYE PHAMBILI, a late charging second in the race last year to October Morn, went one better in the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Richard Fourie bought her through smoothly in the centre of the track to justify heavy market support (3/1 into 17/10) and fend off the dashing rails run of smart 3YO filly, ROCCAPINA.
GIMMIES COUNTESS progressed from the rear to be third without really threatening over three lengths back.
ASIYE PHAMBILI is a five-year-old mare by speed sire, What a Winter ex Cast a Spell.
When in Cape Town she is trained by Gareth van Zyl.
This eighth victory from 21 starts took her career earnings over the million-rand mark.
Van Zyl’s stayer, KING PELLES romped in the Gr 3 Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup over 2500m. HOLDING THUMBS tracked the well-backed, pace-setting lightweight, DAIMYO, and tried to keep rolling but could not match the Duke of Marmalade gelding in the last 200m. The margin of victory was 1.75 lengths.
The 20/1 winner, who was ridden by Athandiwe Mgudlwa, has really come into his own this summer in the Cape. Prior to an unexpectedly weak recent start he had been consistently in the money. He bounced back to form for a fourth score from 16 starts, and with his boundless stamina, there is the promise of more to come in tests of endurance.
