Get Up cruises home in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship (Picture: Race Coast)
Two of the Sean Tarry-trained stars of last season, Grand Empire (Vercingetorix) and Get Up (What A Winter), will be making their reappearances soon.
Grand Empire won the Gr 1 SA Classic and was being prepared for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but he was scratched after running well below par in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m and was not seen again.
Sean said, “There was nothing obvious wrong, it was maybe just a long season. He had to work hard in the Classic and we weren’t happy with his run after that, so we decided to give him a break.”
He will be having a preparation run soon and then be going for the Gr 2 Allied-Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile.
A tilt at the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup is possible depending on how he goes in the Charity Mile.
Ironically, Grand Empire’s full sister, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Palace Of Arvernia, ousted Get Up to win the Equus Champion Two-year-old award, a decision some did not agree with because when they met in the Allan Robertson Get Up had thrashed Palace Of Arvernia by 4,85 lengths.
Nevertheless, Tarry is clearly anticipating Get Up’s three-year-old season eagerly.
He said, “I’m not sure what her distance is, but she’s tops. I will be giving her a prep run in the next couple of weeks.”
Asked on whether he will aim her at the classics, he replied, “It’s always the plan, but they have to show you in their first run, you don’t want to force them anywhere.”
Get Up has won three out of her four starts, including a Gr 3 and a Gr 2, with her only defeat being when a disappointing 0,90 length third in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery.
She concluded her season with an emphatic 3,40 length victory in the Allan Robertson, which was unfortunately downgraded this year to a Gr 2.
