Almond Sea gets up under Gavin Lerena. (JC Photos)
The Listed Betway Swallow Stakes over 1160m for three-year-old fillies was the headliner at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and it saw the Tony Peter-trained Almond Sea landing a second career Listed race under Gavin Lerena, although she might not have done it in the manner expected.
There were good horses running throughout the day, some of them promising youngsters who put their hands up for future feature success, and there was a touch of controversy too.
In the Swallow Stakes Almond Sea was known in her early days as one who used her early pace to dominate fields. However, she has never had the gatespeed to match her pace and this had left her having to make up ground in her last couple of starts. It was the same again on Saturday as she did her normal of going down on her back legs before springing out which sees her exiting the stalls fast but late. On this occasion from draw two in the seven horse field she was the meat in the sandwich early between You Bring Me Joy and Sorceress Supreme. This forced Lerena to take a hold and drop the speedy filly into last place. She got a tow from classy Rodeo Drive, who appeared to be travelling well in the slipstream of the leader Poblano. Rodeo Drive got a tow for as long as she could, but perhaps for too long, because by the time she had been switched for a clear run Almond Sea was alongside her as a gap had opened on Rodeo Drive’s inside. Rodeo Drive could not match Almond Sea’s pace and Almond Sea was left to fight it out with Poblano, whose odds of 25/2 did not match the esteem in which she is held by trainer Robbie Sage. The 72/100 shot Almond Sea fought courageously and won by 0,30 lengths with Rodeo Drive beaten 3,10 lengths into third. The fourth, fifth and sixth horses, Simply Majestic, Pointer and Sorceress Supreme, were beaten 13,50, 13,70 and 14 lengths respectively. You Bring Me Joy was beaten 24,25 lengths. With such a small field so spread out, it suggests it was a decent performance by Almond Sea. She is in the mould of Via Africa in not being big and powerful, but rather athletic and nimble. However, her lack of gatespeed will make it hard for her to get to the very top. She was bred by Peter de Beyer and is owned by Johnny Peter. She cost R200,000 and has had eight runs for five wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of R418,125. The runner up Poblano has only had fives starts for a win on debut and only one unplaced run and she could progress into a useful sort, while this race was perhaps a signal that Rodeo Drive prefers further.
Earlier, one of the highest rated maidens in SA History, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained 107-rated Winds Of Change (What A Winter), had only his second start in a maiden and cruised in by 6,25 lengths under Gavin Lerena in the 1160m event. He has previously had two runner up finishes in Gr 3s and a third place in a Gr 1.
The third race was controversially abandoned by the operator, because there were too many scratchings, leaving a field of just three. It is not clear why this meant it had to be abandoned as there are many two-horse races in the UK, for example, and it is not clear yet which rule allowed the race to be abandoned or whether the operator is allowed to override NHA racing rules in such a case.
In the fourth race over 1600m, Spumante Dolce made it two from two. Raymond Danielson was patient on her, being quite far back in the field with cover and one out, before producing her. The Vercingetorix half-sister to Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water accelerated superbly and powered in by 3,50 lengths. Runner up Kudzu has now finished second in his last four starts. Mike de Kock said Spumante Dolce would have to win convincingly to convince him she was ready to take in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guiness and she looked to have past the test.
In tne next race over 1800m De Kok made it a quick double as Silvano filly Forgiveness cruised in by 2,25 lengths to give Gavin Lerena a treble. That was despite it being the filly’s first outing for two-and-a-half months. The 88-rated four-year-old should progress further.
In the sixth over 1160m Sean Tarry and Piere Strydom made it a double together on the day when Green Sapphire (Gimmethegreenlight) followed up on her contmptuous maiden win by winning by an easy 2.10 lengths off an 81 merit rating. They had won race one together with Exceedingly Glam (What A Winter).
The last race of the day over 1000m saw Raymond Danielson clinching a double as the Clinton Binda-trained Dontsshootthebarman (Visionaire) made a mockery of a betting drift from 10/1 to 25/1, cruising in by 1,20 lengths.
Soft was the official going on the day.
Lerena’s treble put him on 115 wins for the season at a strike rate of 26.74%, meaning he was four wins behind Craig Zackey on the national log at Saturday’s close of play and one ahead of Richard Fourie. The situation changed yesterday though (Sunday) as Zackey rode in the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting and had one winner.
