Manyeleti produced a machine-like performance on debut over 1000m at the Vaal on Tuesday to stop the clock in just over a second outside the course record and she looks to be an exciting filly to follow (JC Photos)
A Craig Zackey double at the Vaal meeting on Tuesday saw him joining Richard Fourie on top of the national jockeys log and it was also a day Lucky Houdalakis and the Slack family will remember.
There were two impressive three-year-old winners on the day, Manyeleti and Wayne, and they were both bred by Mary Slack and Steven and Jessica Jell’s Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzontein stud operation and trained by Lucky Houdalakis.
Manyeleti, a filly by Danon Platina, was particularly eyecatching and she is owned by Steven and Jessica Jell together with Jessica’s sister Rachel Slack.
Manyeleti is out of the useful ten time-winning Listed-winning Tiger Ridge mare Meryl.
The chestnut filly showed blistering pace throughout over 1000m under Craig Zackey to win by three lengths and she stopped the clock at 56.36 seconds, which is only just over a second outside the course record of 55,3 seconds held by Rulership.
The time for the other two races on the day over 1000m were 57,03 seconds and 57,37 seconds respectively, so for Manyeleti to produce that time on debut carrying 59kg makes it apparent she is blessed with terrific pace.
Zackey confirmed, “I would have been disappointed if she had been beaten. Out of the unraced horses I have galloped in my career, this filly probably gave me one of the best gallops I have ever felt, so I had high expectations. I know she has been hard work for Lucky and it’s been a long journey, but we got her here and she’s done the job in fine fashion.”
Zackey said this was one he wanted to stick with and she certainly looks a filly to follow.
Craig concluded by congratulating Steven, Jessica and Rachel and said they had a “lovely filly on their hands.”
Lucky said candidly that she had been very stubborn upon first arriving at his yard and he admitted he had been glad to see the back of her when she had left for some farm rest.
Jessica Jell ensured she was ridden a lot in her farm rest and over long distances and she was eventually ready to return to the Houdalakis yard, although Lucky admitted it was not news he had been too excited about.
However, he said she had not put a foot wrong since her return.
He said, “We started slowly and I then realised that, wow, she can run!!”
The nerves are now felt by the trainer every time she gallops, a sign of the potential she has.
He said he could have run her two weeks earlier, but Craig Zackey was suspended at the time and he decided to rather stick with the man who had always been with her and wait.
So there are some exciting times ahead with this filly.
The pace she showed looked to be effortless and her pedigree would suggest it is not “cheap speed.”
Meryl’s wins were from 1400m up to 2400m and she was most comfortable over middle distance to staying trips.
It will be interesting to see whether Manyeleti stays further .
In Tuesday’s third race over 1400m the Houdalakis-trained Vercingetorix gelding Wayne showed fine pace to lead throughout under Gavin Lerena to win by 1,90 lengths, stopping the clock in a time of 83 seconds.
He stretched out nicely in the closing stages and was never under any pressure.
Wayne is out of Tiger Ridge mare Cherry Ridge, an unraced full-sister to Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The Top.
Wayne cost R700,000 at a two-year-old Sale and he is owned by Laurence Werners and Mike Destombes.
Wayne “shows nothing” at home and is beaten in every gallop on the sand.
However, Lerena said, “He gave me a nice feel. He’s got a good mind on him and he moves very well under you. It feels like there is still a lot of maturing to do, so probably a softer route would be better for him at this stage of his career, but as I said he gave me a lovely feel, he’s beautifully bred and well done to Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein.”
Lerena added, “A big thank you to Lucky. It’s never easy coming back and getting the right rides.”
Lerena was suspended from the 12th of September until the 28th of October inclusive and has already had five wins since coming back on October 29.
Houdalakis confirmed Wayne was still very immature and said he had been worried to see him leading all by himself over 1400m down the straight.
It was just his second career start and he pointed out that being a late November foal he was still a two-year-old in reality, so it was a commendable performance.
Zackey and Fourie are now both on 64 wins for the season, with Fourie doing it at 27% and Zackey at 15.61%.
Houdalakis has had ten wins this season at 13.51%.
Fabian Habib also sent out a double and has had 15 wins this season at 13.39%.
