A joyous Mickaelle Michel’s moment of realisation … she has just landed a career first Gr 1 victory on Star Major in the Daily News 2000 (Picture: Race Coast)
Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville saw two milestone moments for two up and coming forces in the sport, James Crawford and Mickaelle Michel, who both landed the first Gr 1s of their respective careers when the Maine Chance Farms-bred Querari colt Star Major won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000.
James has won a Gr 1 before as a joint trainer with his father Brett, winning the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas with Fatal Flaw, but this was his first Gr 1 under his own license.
Mickaelle, who hails from France, has taken South Africa by storm with her continually improving performances. She became only the second woman in history to win a Gr 1 in South Africa. The first to do it was Lisa Prestwood’s in the Golden Horse Sprint on the Buddy Maroun-trained Al Nitak on June 1, 2003, a day out from being exactly 23 years ago.
Star Major is the fifth Gr 1 winner for Maine Chance Farms’ high profile sire Querari.
The progressive Star Major came into Saturday’s R2 000 000 race off a win in the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Guineas he had also won the Gr 3 HKJC World Pool Politician Stakes over 1800m earlier in the season.
The pace was set by Viva’s Liberte. who once again effected his chances by taking too strong a hold.
However, the decent pace he set allowed Happy Verse to get the sling shot effect into the straight from midfield and Star Major to get the same from near the back.
Note To Self turned for home just in front of Happy Verse and went down the inside, but his turn of foot was not as explosive as Happy Verse’s or Star Major’s. However, this big horse will have been brought on by both of his KZN runs and should be spot on for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He will now be getting a bit of weight from both Star Major and Happy Verse in the big one too.
The progressive Star Major sped past Happy Verse to win by 1,50 lengths with Note To Self a further 1,50 lengths back in third, a length ahead of Viva’s Liberte, who was 2,90 lengths ahead of Malmesbury Missile.
The win secured a Graded double for Maine Chance Farms as they also bred the winner of the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000, Wish List.
Jonathan Bloch has a share in both Star Major and Wish List.
He owns Star Major in partnership with Neville Isdell, Mrs Prakashni Pillay & Kalinga.
Bloch also has a share in Note To Self, so as an owner who has only ever had one July runner, Ess Five Beaches (13th in 1999), he now has share in all three of the shortest-priced horses in the Hollywoodbets Durban July betting … he must be pinching himself!
The order of the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby was the filly Wish List followed by Note To Self, Viva’s Liberte, Star Major and Happy Verse, so the same quartet finished close together in a different order in the Daily News.
Star Major, despite being the only colt among them, appears to be the most progressive of them, but his chances of beating them again in the Hollywodbets Durban July will be equalised by the merit rating changes.
The new ratings are yet to be official, although the Sporting Post have published Star Major as being 122, a four point raise, and Happy Verse a 119, a six point raise, while Note To Self and Viva’s Liberte remain unchanged on 118 and 114 respectively.
In that case it looks like Viva’s Liberte was used as the line horse.
Happy Verse was having his third run after gelding and is now beginning to fulfill the potential he displayed as a youngster.
Viva’s Liberte was on the outside looking in horses on the first log and did not do much to enhance his chances.
Happy Verse was also and he will likely now be in a comfortable position on the log.
Hazy Dazy was in position 14 on the first log and will be under pressure to maintain her place after being beaten 11,40 lengths into 8th.
Jan Van Goyen finished seventh and probably did not stay. He has been scratched from the July.
Chronicle King was nowhere on the first log and did not enhance his chances by finishing a 7,30 length 6th.
Master Spy has been scratched after fading tamely from a handy position and finishing a 11,55 length ninth.
His Sean Tarry-trained stablemate, the Gr 1 SA Classic winner Grand Empire, could well now be in the pound seats, because he could rise from position 20 on the log into the top 18 considering the scratchings of Okavango amd Jan Van Goyen and with Hazy Dazy under pressure. Grand Empire will carry bottom weight of 52kg, so as things stand will get 4kg from Star Major.
