Greg Cheyne Heading To England
Final Fling And Champagne Stakes Raceday Report (Cape Racing)
Saturday 23 July 2022
6/1 chance, Walk of Fame and 2/1 favourite, Major Attraction fought out a spirited duel in the Western Province Nomads Champagne Stakes, for Fillies and Mares at Weight for Age down a sticky Kenilworth track before Walk of Fame prevailed in a photo finish. 20/1 longshot, Sonic Burst ran her heart out to complete the trifecta without troubling the top two.
Jockey Greg Cheyne had to roust every last bit of energy out of the daughter of Dynasty when a determined Major Attraction stuck with her into the final 200m – the margin of victory a short head at the wire. Walk of Fame is now a winner of four out of 14 starts, shows a distinct love of the Kenilworth “straight six” and, now that her racing career is done, will be an asset to Ridgemont’s quality broodmare band.
Cheyne, an industrious, hard-working jockey who for many moons has been at the top of South Africa’s riding rankings, is moving abroad to new activities as he seeks his fortune in Britain, commencing work for big-name trainer, William Haggas. Brett Crawford paid a farewell tribute to Cheyne, describing him as the “most thorough professional.” In turn, Cheyne credited Crawford for his horsemanship skills over the years, exemplified yet again with this strapping but difficult filly who required plenty of attention before landing this bloodstock-boosting, Grade 3.
In contrast to that ding dong tussle, Saturday’s other headliner turned into a rout. Four-year-old Legislate filly, So Flawless trounced the opposition in the Econorisk Final Fling Stakes (Grade 3) in a great result for Plattner Racing and trainer Andre Nel. They also sent out second placed, Young Love. Rain in Newmarket clocked in third, four lengths adrift, in the 1800m event.
So Flawless routs them in the Final Fling Stakes (Wayne Marks).
The winner was bred by James Armitage and, barring a possible foray up to Port Elizabeth to contest another feature will most probably be going to Stud, now the winner of two Black Type races. So Flawless, a 5/1 shot, was positioned about six lengths of the speed cut out by Pretty Betty, before getting a split up the inside and using her surging turn of foot to draw clear of toiling rivals.
Jockey Corne Orffer, who handled her so adeptly in the Ladies Mile when winning her last start, again produced a textbook ride. “I was confident going into the race. She was flying at work and I’m pleased Andre agreed to take the blinkers off this time over 1800m. She really is a smart, little filly.”
Nel confirmed that she has improved considerably at four, loves soft ground and goes best fresh. “It took us a while to work her out” he quipped modestly, before stating, “We just played with her since that last win.” The ultra-consistent, So Flawless has scored in five of 18 career starts, together with nine placings.
Main Picture: Walk Of Fame just gets up to beat Major Attraction (Wayne Marks).
