The King Of Scottsville thus landed a Gr 1 for the seventh successive year at the Festival Of Speed meeting, which is likely a South African record for one meeting. In that seven year period he has won 14 Gr 1s at the meeting, an average of two per year for seven years, a phenomenal achievement.
Four-year-old Klawervlei Stud-bred filly Mia Moo, who is owned by Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd & World Sports Betting (Nom: Mr W Tannous), gave boom sire Vercingetorix his 12th individual Gr 1 winner, while it was a welcome return to the Gr 1 winner’s enclosure for jockey Callan Murray, whose sojourn in Australia did not scale these heights.
The SA Fillies Sprint was a thriller and ended in a three-way photo between Mia Moo, the Duncan Howells-trained favourite Asiye Phambili, and last year’s runner up, the Tarry-trained Mrs Browning. They were separated by short-heads and finished in that order, while Chasing Happiness was just a neck further back. Fifth-placed Whistle The Tune was beaten just 1,40 lengths.
Asiye Phambili ran a tremendous race considering she was without cover throughout from a high draw. Last year she was strongly fancied by Howells for this same race, but dislodged her rider at the start, so she oh so nearly made amends.
Mia Moo and Mrs Browning also faced the breeze throughout in the leading line, but were in the favourable inside going.
THe unluckiest runner was likely the star Justin Snaith-trained filly Double Grand Slam, who was drawn one and had an impossible amount of traffic to get through as the runners all drifted over on to the inside strip.
The post race comments can be read below:
CALLAN MURRAY : “It was very close and was just praying that I got it. It’s been a long time between drinks for me between Group 1’s. This is one of the reasons I came home. To get one so soon, I can only thank Mr Tarry … I am very grateful. Not so long ago, Mr Tarry and I won with Warrior’s Rest. When he put me on this horse, I was pleasantly surprised, because I’ve only been back a short period. She’s a very capable horse … those last 2 wins were superb. It was a pleasure to ride her. Mr Tarry didn’t tie me down, telling me just to keep it smooth and she’ll do the rest … and she did!.”SEAN TARRY : “I really got hold of jockeys early for this race, but most jockeys had already sorted themselves out. Callan had ridden a very good race for me ‘the other day’ and had come to ride work … and I thought, ‘why not’? Having said that, Louis as well … he rode a perfect race on Mrs Browning … I couldn’t have asked for much more. Just well done to Callam … I’m very proud of him. It was tough finish and he got her home. I’m happy that we were able to show a little bit of fight today!”SANDY ARUNDEL : “What a wonderful partnership we have had with these friends of ours. We took a decision on our own, just before the Met, that you know what, we’ve worked so well together that we would love to put Mia Moo in your colours and let her run the season out. There she goes to win a Grade 3, Grade 2 and Grade 1 on the trot! I feel wonderful about this. They are amazing to work with … we never have any issues … it’s the greatest partnership and we look forward to racing with them for so much longer. Well done to Sean and this wonderful Callam … I’m so pleased to hear that he’s staying.”RYNO DU PLESSIS : “I’ve been on racecourses many times in my life and this is absolutely the highlight. It’s the first time for us to have a Group 1 winner. It’s the first time that I’ve been on course when Mia Moo has won. I was really confident that she would win it. She’s one of those horses with so much emotional investment … not just from the partnership, but I know the Tannous family, the Arundel family and little Mia is so special to us.”EUGENE ARUNDEL : “I could get used to this! Hopefully this happens more often.”STEVEN KARRAM : “I was shouting the roof down. It was unbelievable. I thought she got up, but it was very, very close. It is an unbelievable partnership.”