An ecstatic Dayalan Chinsammy (blue suit, right) leads in Confederate, who gave him a Gr 1 double on the day and a stakes race treble. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Dayalan Chinsammy said in the post race interview of the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic that some owners go a lifetime without having a Gr 1 winner, so somebody who had had two in one day had been “blessed”.
He and Trevelen Pillay must be extra blessed then as they had two Gr 1 winners (Fiery Pegasus and Confederate) and a Listed winner (Charming Cheetah) on Saturday at Turffontein Standside, while E Naicker and all of G, K and MM Nassif were all shareholders in both of the Gr 1 winners.
The Chinsammy red colours with black epaulettes became familar through the Joe Soma-trained five time Gr 1 winner Got The Greenlight, so it was fitting that Soma and those colours got the Gr 1 ball rolling for Chinsammy and Pillay on Saturday when Fiery Pegasus waltzed in by 4,50 lengths in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic under Richard Fourie.
She had sat in eighth place in the running after jumping from a draw of ten out of eleven in a race that was run in driving rain.
She went through the field like a hot knife through butter in the straight and hit the front at the 300m mark before drawing off to beat Olivia’s Way by 4,50 lengths, despite having drifted out to 17/2 in the betting.
Joe Soma has an incredible Gr 1 record for a small yard and this provided him with yet another.
Fiery Pegasus, a Captain Of All filly bred by Marsh Shirtliff’s Greenacre Trust together with Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, is a full sister to Shango, who won the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas and later won the Gr 3 Hollywoodbets 2200 and the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, both run at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Shango’s liking for Hollywoodbets Greyville and his stamina capacity augurs well as Dayalan dreamed of becoming the first Indian owner to win the Hollywoodbets Durban July when Got The Greenlight was around and he twice went close, with a 0,80 length second in 2020 and a 0,70 length third in 2021.
Fiery Pegasus has been priced up as third favourite for the July in the first ante-post market, which Hollywoodbets have put out even before first nominations.
Dayalan will also have a July chance with the Fabian Habib-trained Moutonshoek Stud-bred Confederate, who also ran in his colours on Saturday.
This classy long-striding gelding by Fire Away displayed what Craig Zackey described as “the most amazing action ever” when leading from start to finish in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic.
Fire Away clinched a Gr 1 exacta as The Alec Laird-trained Fire Attack ran on strongly for a 0,70 length second. Fire Attack won the Gr 2 SA Nursery last year and this was his third successive Graded runner up finish.
Legend Of Arthur dwelt at the jump and had to come from last. He did well to stay on for a 4,10 length third, 0,40 lengths ahead of Grey Jet, who stayed on well from midfield. The Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway was in second place in the running and chased gallantly in the straight, but became one paced late and was overtaken for third spot late in the race, finishing a five length fifth.
Fire Attack is shorter in the Hollywoodbets Durban July betting than Confederate as he looks to have a stouter female line. Confederate is out of a mare by speed influence Danehill Dancer.
Fiery Pegasus’ full ownership is Messrs J R Blumberg,D Chinsammy,R G Coppin,E Naicker,B M Nassif, G, K & M M Nassif,Mr B & Mrs K Ncube,MGAS Bloodstock, Kisten Pillay Racing (Trevelen).
Confederate’s full ownership is D Chinsammy, W G de Koker, E Naicker, G J Nassif, J Nassif, G, K & M M Nassif,Tri-Deal Sixteen CC (Nom: Z L Nassif)&TKP Racing (Nom: Trevelen Pillay).
Trevelen Pillay was not an owner of Confederate in his previous start as he has just recently bought out some partners who wanted out.
Fiery Pegasus cost R330,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale, while Confederate cost R280,000 at the BSA August Sale.
Those prices did not match the R500,000 paid for the Robyn Klaasen-trained Clifton Stud-bred New Predator colt Charming Cheetah, who produced a strong late run under Rachel Venniker to win at odds of 66/1 and give Venniker a quick Listed double.
The full ownership of Charming Cheetah is Messrs D Chinsammy, S S Pooe & TKP Racing (Nom: Trevelen Pillay).
This is a most interesting filly as she is from one of the best families in the South African stud book, which started with the import by Anthony Kalmaonson of Varsfontein Stud of the British-bred Lucky Libra. The latter was a tall and leggy mare whose three wins included a hurdles race over two-and-a-half miles, yet she became the forerunner of a family full of speed. Her Jungle Cove daughter Enchanting became a matriarch of speed. Enchanting produced the brilliant sprinter Harry’s Charm and her descendants include the legendary sprinter National Currency.
It is exciting times for Dayalan Chinsammy and Trevelen Pillay and the other partners in these three horses.
