Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)
Classic Day at Turffontein on Saturday had all the makings of a splendid racing occasion, and it lived up to those expectations.
It had everything – excitement, tears of joy, tears of disappointment, delight, champions stamping their authority – and even a little hailstorm thrown in to cool down the sultry conditions.
Gimme A Nother, going off at 3-10, displayed her class with a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Classic as she stormed to a 4.25-length victory over stablemate Silver Sanctuary (11-2), to extend her unbeaten record to six.
Third place went to Let’s Go Now (50-1) Bavarian Beauty (14-1) in fourth.
Dingaans winner Purple Pitcher (10-1) turned around his Gauteng Guineas defeat to Sandringham Summit in no uncertain terms in the Grade TAB SA Classic, holding off the 63-100 favourite by 0.75 lengths.
Third place went to William Iron Arm (7-1) with Pure Predator (66-1) running a cracker to finish in fourth place, beaten just two lengths.
After that the rain arrived which resulted in a delay to the meeting but when they returned, Main Defender (28-10) gave trainer Tony Peter his third of four wins on the day. Coming from off the pace, Main Defender ran down Dave The King (8-1) and Princess Calla (18-10) to capture the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
Peter had earlier won the Storm Bird Stakes over Ruffian Stakes for fillies, both Listed events for two-year-olds over 1000m, with Pistol Pete and Almond ea respectively. The stable also capped off the day with a win from Judgment Day in Race 10.
All four were ridden by Calvin Habib.
It was also a red-letter day for former champion jockey Mark Khan who made his first runner as a trainer a winning one, capturing Race 4 aboard 20-1 shot Sea Shanty which was ridden with determination by Ryan Munger.
