Star performances from Main Defender, Feather Boa, Mrs Geriatrix

Feather Boa finally got it right, Mrs Geriatrix extended her unbeaten tally to six and Main Defender blew away the opposition on a day that must have delighted sponsors Betway.

There is no question Feather Boa was considered the best horse not to have won a Graded race last season when she contested three Grade 1 races, two Grade 2s and one Grade 3. While she placed in all – in five of them she was beaten less than a length – the daughter of Flower Alley could not get her head down where it mattered most.

On Saturday that all changed.

Ridden by Gavin Lerena, Feather Boa came from well back to beat stable companion Captain Peg by one length, giving trainer Stuart Pettigrew a one-two in the Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track.

Third place went to three-year-old Just Be Lekker with Emirate Gina flying up late to claim fourth, beaten just 1.45 lengths.

ALSO READ: Weights favour Main Defender

Bettors still had faith in Feather Boa’s ability as she went off favourite at 9-4. Earlier all eyes were on Mrs Geriatrix who made her three-year-old debut in the Non-Black Type Betway SA Sales Cup (Fillies) over 1450m.

The Vercingetorix filly had not raced since winning the Grade 2 Golden Slipper on Durban July day and despite going off at 1-4, she was pushed all the way to the line by Mike de Kock-trained White Pearl. But Sean Tarry’s charge demonstrated she had plenty fight in her and went on to keep the challenge at bay by 0.10 lengths.

The fact there were 5.50 lengths back to third-placed Betual speaks volumes and with this run under her belt, there will be a lot higher expectations for Mrs Geriatrix during the course of the summer.

However, the performance of the day came from Tony Peter-trained Main Defender in the Betway Joburg Spring Challenge. There was a lot of confidence emanating from the stable but even they might have been surprised by the authority of the victory.

ALSO READ: Charles Dickens back in action

Stable companion Miss Daisy set the pace with Main Defender sitting close up and when jockey Kabelo Matsunyane asked for his mount to run, the three-year-old son of Pathfork built up a commanding lead and 100m from home Matsunyane was already looking over his shoulder.

He went on to beat Thunderstruck by 6.50 lengths and completed the distance in 1.10 seconds faster that Feather Boa. Third place went to another three-year-old, Ready To Fly, with last year’s winner William Robertson in fourth.

Main Defender, who went off at 15-10, has only once been beaten in five starts, and that was by Sandringham Summit in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes where he was trounced 2.40 lengths.

It makes one wonder what we can expect from David Nieuwenhuizen’s charge this season.