Vercingetorix filly Ladyofdistinction, a full-sister to KZN Horse Of The Year Gladatorian, gets up in the Listed Flamboyant Stakes last Friday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Listed Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday was won by the Michael Roberts-trained Ladyofdistinction, while the gelding Imposing continued his transformation under Gareth van Zyl by winning the Listed Christmas Handicap over the same course and distance.
In the Flamboyant Stakes the lightly-raced four-year-old Vercingetorix filly Ladyofdistinction, who is a full-sister to KZN Horse Of The Year Gladatorian, started 2/1 favourite with Tomyris the only other one in single figures at 28/10.
There was an early crawl and for a moment it looked like Ladyofdistinction might be caught wide and pulling.
However, Forward Motion saved the day by going forward and as the deck was shuffled again Rachel Venniker managed to find cover for Ladyofdistinction in a perfect one out and two back position.
Ladyofdistinction was switched outward in the straight and stormed home, getting the better of Forward Motion and Tomyris and holding off the strong challenge of eventual runner up Amelia’s Legacy on the very outside by 0,25 lengths.
Ladyofdistinction was bred by Erasmus Thoroughbreds CC and cost R1,5 million at the November Two-year-old Sale.
She is owned by Al Khayl Breeders (Pty) Ltd and has now won four of seven starts.
The Flamboyant was the first black type race she had contested.
It could not have been an easy week for Michael Roberts as his Gr 1-winning stable star See It Again has been moved to the Justin Snaith yard ahead of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and WSB Met.
Roberts said the Flamboyant had been the target for Ladyofdistinction a long way out.
She looks capable of progressing into a contender for top female races.
In the Christmas Handicap over the same trip Imposing sat in a handy position under S’Manga Khumalo and shot clear early in the straight and never looked like stopping.
The Lammerskraal Stud-bred six-year-old Visionaire gelding carried 54kg off a 96 rating and beat Isivivane by two lengths with Capsaicin beaten 2,80 lengths into third.
Imposing has now had five starts for Gareth van Zyl for four wins.
The Christmas Handicap was his first black type win.
He is owned by Howard Schwegmann and cost R350,000 at the National Yearling Sale.
