Showgirl runs out an easy winner first time out the maidens at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Peter Muscutt-trained Soqrat filly Showgirl has quite a story behind her and the owners are now reaping the dividends for their patience and for their trust in Muscutt and in the horse herself.
Peter revealed, “When I saw her at the Sale I said to Roslyn (Coetzee), ‘We are not leaving this Sale without this filly’, because she looked just like Winx. And even when she came into work she looked like her. We even named her in honour of Winx, because Winx’s dam was called Vegas Showgirl. Showgirl is a big, long-striding filly. She has the same attributes as Winx as she’s a lovely natured filly and does everything right.”
Peter’s time working for Chris Waller in Australia coincided with the career of the great Winx, who won 37 races in 43 starts, including 33 in succession and she won a world record 25 Gr 1s.
Peter secured Showgirl for R575,000.
The Shadwell Stud-bred filly is owned by Messrs G C Cornwall, E C Abraham , B W Hamilton, R Rotham, G Piha, T Herdon, SMB Insurance Brokers CC (Nom: Mr M A Brackett) and Mrs Roslyn Coetzee.
The dogs were barking before her debut on January 20, 2024, in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and she was backed in from 25/2 to 8/1.
However, the race did not pan out well under Bernard Fayd’Herbe and she finished a 5,30 length seventh.
In her second start over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on February 24, 2024, she was beaten 15 lengths and it was discovered she had fractured her pelvis.
She had to be given a lengthy break.
However, the owners maintained their faith in Muscutt and in Showgirl and were rewarded when she made her comeback after a 19 month layoff and won by an easy 2,20 lengths over 1200m at Hollywodbets Scottsville at odds of 15/2.
In her next start, which happened on Monday this week over 1200m at Hollywoodbet Kenilworth in a C Stakes event, she carried 56kg off a 74 merit rating and won by an easy 2,50 lengths.
She was ridden by Richard Fourie in both of her wins.
Her speed had taken Fourie by surprise in the Hollywoodbets Scottsville race, but he was ready for her next time out and he had her handy just off the pace. She quickened superbly when asked for her effort at the 300m mark and despite being the only filly in the race she had soon put daylight between herself and the opposition and required just a couple of backhanders to keep her mind on the job.
She was raised to a 78 and Peter said about any thoughts of a feature race, “She is fairly lowly rated so I won’t have any lofty targets for her just yet”
Peter took a string of 17 horses to Cape Town and has already had two wins in just four runs.
His other winner was the three-year-old Hawwaam gelding Touched By Angels, who powered in by 3,50 lengths over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in just his second career start.
Roslyn also part-owns him, together with Mr T Herdon.
Peter said, “Touched By Angels is quite a wayward young man so I don’t want to put him under too much pressure at this stage, so he’ll just run where he’s handicapped at the moment without putting him under the pump too early.”
The promising three-year-old William Longsword gelding Count Of Rouen was not disgraced when a 4,85 length fifth in the Gr 3 Cape Classic over 1400m.
He is being entered in the Gr 2 Punters Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on November 22, but Peter believes he is more of a Derby horse than a Guineas horse, so he might go the Politician Stakes/Cape Derby route rather than line up in the Hollywodbets Cape Guineas.
The Muscutt string looks to be in fine fettle and should be followed.
Showgirl has the opportunity to go through the divisions and should be followed until beaten.
Touched By Angels will have it a bit tougher off an 89 merit rating starting point, but he looks capable of progressing.
Peter mentioned a few others.
He said, “There’s some lovely races for the just-under-the-top-level horses like I Salute You and Jordash. We have a nice colt running on Saturday called Little Boy Blue and there are some very nice two-year-olds.”
