GALLERY: The race is on in the Triple Crown
Nafaayes with jockey Warren Kennedy won the much-coveted Gauteng Fillies Guineas Grade 2.
Fillies and geldings in separate races
ONE could say that Nafaayes with jockey Warren Kennedy won the much-coveted Gauteng Fillies Guineas Grade 2 of 1 600m with a breath of air as he held off Running Brave on the finish line.
In the Gauteng Guineas Grade 2, of 1 600m, National Park and jockey Richard Fourie crossed the finish line for the Yvette Bremmer stable.
The first leg of the Triple Crown, which includes Gauteng Fillies Guineas Grade 2 and the Gauteng Guineas, took place at Turffontein Racecourse on February 2. Judging by the racing that took place on the day, it will be an interesting time ahead for trainers and owners at Turffontein Racecourse.
The Gauteng Fillies Guineas saw Kennedy fight hard to keep Australian-bred Nafaayes on the road to victory to beat Running Brave. Celtic Sea, who missed the break, ran commendably into third place, with Ronnie’s Candy in fourth.
This Grade 2 race was the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, but Mike de Kock, Nafaayes’ trainer, said it is unlikely that Nafaayes would go for the R2-million bonus cheque for winning all three races of the series.
De Kock said, “She won’t go much further. She will definitely go for the SA Fillies Classic, but not for the third leg of the Triple.”
Eastern Cape raider National Park stunned horse-racing fans by claiming a stunning victory in the R1-m Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas.
The gelding started at odds of 7-1 and was brilliantly ridden by Fourie, who placed him well and at the 400m mark went for the finish, running well away from the rest of the field. The winning margin was 2.70 lengths.
Favourite Hawaam, from the Mike de Kock stables, ran into second place with jockey Gavin Lerena. In third place was another de Kock runner, Barahin, under Anton Marcus, and ZillZaal finished fourth.
The next leg of the Fillies Guineas, the Fillies Classic and the South African Oaks, will take place on March 2 at Turffontein Racecourse.
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