Jack Milner
Bettors at Turffontein on Saturday witnessed two superb feats in both the Grade 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas and Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas as both strong favourites – Sandringham Summit and Gimme A Nother respectively – put up spectacular winning performances.
The manner of their victories has put significant anticipation into the other two legs of the SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara for fillies.
“These are the horses we get up and work for,” said trainer Mike de Kock after Gimme A Nother came from near last to score a sensational 1.75-length victory in the Fillies Guineas.
Ridden by JP van der Merwe, the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight comfortably beat stablemate Silver Sanctuary, with My Soul Mate in third and Let's Do It in fourth.
The most remarkable fact is that very little went right for horse and jockey in the early stages.
"Today, from that draw (No 11), I thought it was going to be a little bit difficult," said Van der Merwe. "I couldn't get in and I had to pull her back a little bit to get in and I was a little bit far out of my ground.
"But I got her into the straight, gave her a nice clear run and she just gets better and better."
"We knew this filly's decent, we knew that from day one," said Van der Merwe.
Going off at 1-1 and paying an even better R2.10 for a win on TAB, those circumstances saw Gimme A Nother placed second last, one off the fence, as stablemate Mary's Greenlight made the early pace, but once she was switched to the centre of the track, she stormed past the opposition to win with complete authority.
De Kock added his thoughts to the victory. "She actually behaved quite badly today because she was supposed to go to Cape Town for the Paddock Stakes, but that fell through, so we were switching her on, switching her off, switching her on again so she was very fresh today.
“So, I know it sounds stupid now, but I think she will even get a little better.”
De Kock added that while Gimme A Nother came from near the back of the field on this occasion, she would be quite capable of racing from the front is she had to be there.
So Gimme A Nother remains unbeaten in five starts and Van der Merwe has been aboard in all of them.
If De Kock is prepared to get out of bed at the crack of dawn for Gimme A Nother, it is even more true for David Nieuwenhuizen and Sandringham Summit.
He has a small yard and for them to have a horse of Sandringham Summit’s extraordinary ability is uncommon.
That also adds to the pressure for the yard, and it has not been easy for Nieuwenhuizen.
The three-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight had been beaten in the Grade 2 Dingaans over the same course and distance and when scratched from an earlier engagement, rumours were flying around the racing fraternity that all was not well with the Gimmethegreenlight colt.
But Sandringham Summit put the record straight in no uncertain manner on Saturday when he coasted to a three-length victory over Hotarubi, William Iron Arm and Purple Pitcher.
Despite not having raced since November, Sandringham Summit looked fantastic in the parade ring and ran accordingly.
Gavin Lerena, who scored his fourth winner of the day aboard this colt, had him perfectly placed in fourth position while House Of Romanov set a strong pace. At the 400m mark Lerena moved in, the opposition faded out behind him, and it was all a question of how far.
Sandringham Summit went off at 12-10 which in retrospect, looked outstanding value.
Lerena was full of praise for the colt. “Fantastic win from him.
“His last run wasn't Sandringham's run. I didn't really know the horse well. I was working him, and he didn't really give me too much of a feel and I must say that this time all I had was horse under me.
"So obviously, his last run was a flat run and a big thank you to them for sticking with me.
"He's a phenomenal horse and it's just great to be on him."
It is always thrilling to see a small stable win one of the top feature races and certainly a highlight for Nieuwenhuizen, who Lerena said had pulled off a “fantastic training feat”.
Nieuwenhuizen was clearly delighted by the display produced by last season's Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. “This is the horse I know,” he said. “Last time everything went wrong.
“Gavin must be given all the accolades. The horses went up front, they went hard, he obviously knew what was happening.
"He won a great race, a great riding feat from him if you watch the race."
Sandringham Summit will now be aimed at the second leg of the SA Triple Crown, the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m on Saturday 3 March.
The manner in which Sandringham Summit and Gimme A Nother dismantled their opposition, it will take a brave punter to bet against the two closing out the second leg.
However, the issue will come up in Leg 3 because will these two see out 2450m in the Grade 1 SA Derby and the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks?
Sometimes these three-year-olds don’t really have to stay, their class sees them through and these two are swathed in class!