Gareth van Zyl won the second Grade 1 of his career today when his Gimmethegreenlight mare She’s A Keeper caused an upset in the Brentford CC Garden Province Stakes under champion jockey elect Warren Kennedy.
She paid R8.20 on the Tote.
The pace was slow and She’s A Keeper, who jumped from pole position, travelled comfortably in midfield on the rail in the ten horse field.
She stuck to her stations down the inside in the straight as the leaders drifted to the centre.
She showed a fine turn of foot and had soon hit the front.
She kept going well to win by two lengths from Marina and Silver Darling.
Captain’s Ransom was expected to convert her meeting banker status, but she pulled early from her wide draw and Richard Fourie had difficulty restraining her in order to tuck her in.
She never looked like winning after turning for home last and coming wide into the straight.
She did make late inroads to finish a 3,25 length fourth, half-a-length clear of last year’s winner Zarina.
It was reported later that Captain’s Ransom had become upset by the fireworks that were let off after the Hollywoodbets Durban July victory ceremony.
Nevertheless, it was a fine effort by She’s A Keeper who reversed form with both Captain’s Ransom and Zarina from the Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes run over this same 1600m trip in Cape Town in January.
She’s A Keeper, owned and bred by the Missing U Syndicate, will be retired to stud at the end of the season.
Picture: Candiese Lenferna
