Gimmethatpearl will attempt to equal a record for Drakenstein Stud by winning the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes on Friday. (Picture: Chase Liebenberg).
Drakenstein Stud have been locked on 20 stakes winners for the season for some time and opportunities to equal or break their own South African record of 21 stakes winners in a season are fast running out.
Justin Snaith raids Fairview on Friday and included in his runners is the Drakenstein Stud homebred Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimmethatpearl, who runs in the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes over 1600m.
The Snaith team are well aware of Drakenstein’s record bid as they have mentioned it recently in winner’s eclosure interviews, so they will be determined to do it with Gimmethatpearl.
Gimmethatpearl will have a fine chance if repeating her penultimate start.
She came from backward of midfield with a strong finish in the Listed Ladies Mile to be beaten just 0,60 lengths at Hollywodbets Kenilworth by the consistent Time For Love.
A concern is that she played up in the stalls as the starter pressed the button in her last start, causing her to lose a length or two. However, she was not disgraced in that run over 1400m as she gave a decent looking winner called Russian Royal (Rafeef) 10kg and was only beaten 4,90 lengths.
She shoud be a big runner in the East Cape Paddock Stakes under Muzi Yeni.
If she does not win then the only stakes race available for Drakenstein before World Pool Gold Cup day will be the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup over 1400m at Fairview on July 25 and they could well win that because Justin Snaith has entered the exciting Drakenstein Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt Happy Verse, although on the downside he has draw 17 of the 18 entries.
On Gold Cup day Drakenstein have a number of entries including the Alan Greeff-trained Bournemouth and the Snaith-trained Future Swing in the Gr 3 Gold Cup, the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again in the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Winds Of Change in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Chieftan, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Symphony In White and the Snaith-trained Un Bel Di in the Listed Umgeni Handicap and the Mike Miller-trained Narina Trogon and the Sean Tarry-trained pair The Africa House and Don’t Cry For Me in the Listed Darley Arabian.
