Danie Toerien
Santa Therese today took the honours in the feature event at Fairway, winning the Listed Jockey Club Stakes over 2000m for the second year running.
In the process, Alan Greeff’s charge recorded her tenth career victory from 18 outings while taking her career earnings past the R500,000 mark.
With Richard Fourie in the saddle for the first time, Santa Therese looked in a spot of bother heading into the straight at about the 800m marker. But this crowd favourite showed her class and tenacity and, in the end ran out a 0.75-length winner over First Street, trained by Sharon Kotzen. Glen Kotzen’s Flower Of Saigon was a further 0.25-lengths behind with Integrity, from Tara Laing’s yard, a distant 4.25-lengths back completing the Quartet.
“She’s an absolute lady, and the way the groom looks after her is fantastic,” said Fourie after the race.
“She’s very temperamental. From the word go she was very busy. I realised I shouldn’t fight her, so I just threw her the reins to see what her vibe was like. I let her decide whether she wants to lead or to follow.
“She’s a born leader, that’s why she’s won ten races, which is quite amazing.
“She’s also got form. Ran three lengths off Captain’s Ransom, and that’s got to be good enough.
“She’s a lovely filly. The speed of the race was nice and true. We could maintain a nice flowing gallop.
“I was a bit concerned, because she didn’t travel at all with me. I was a bit worried through the 800. She was quite a bit detached. But then I felt that machine starting to wake up under me. I just had to find a good line for her.
“At the 300 she was good and ready underneath me and I could ride a race from there. It was a lovely win.”
Santa Therese’s victory was the cherry on the cake for both Greeff and Fourie, sealing a treble of wins for the pair on the day.
They also combined for victory in race 3, a maiden plate for fillies and mares over 1 200m with Rhythm Of The Rain and in race 6, a MR68 handicap over 1400m with Ushuaia.