The Ascot Stud-bred Mary’s Greenlight stamped her class and showed no ill effects after a 21 week break to win the R200 000 Listed Flamboyant Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the Day Of Goodwill public holiday, on Thursday.
Mike de Kock has never been classed a ‘Christmas trainer’ but said that he had earmarked this race for Mary’s Greenlight after her fourth-placed effort in the World Pool With Tabgold Darley Arabian at the end of last season.
“On ratings she had to be in the first two here,” added De Kock of the 4yo who was registering her first stakes success.
Raymond Danielson guides Mary’s Greenlight to victory as Rachel Venniker and Perilla try hard (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Winning Form-sponsored jockey Raymond Danielson said his instructions were simple – ‘take your medicine from the wide draw’.
“Things went well. When I asked her for an effort in the home straight, she responded immediately and I had to restrain her as she was coming back from a rest. A good effort,” added the Highveld jockey.
With the 14-10 favourite Celtic Beauty unravelling in her newly fitted blinkers in the pre-race formalities, things went pear-shaped as the consistent daughter of Vercingetorix raced aggressively out front, before running out of puff and capping the back end of the quartet and 2,30 lengths behind the winner.
Nothing finished stronger than Mary’s Greenlight (6-1) who powered home up the outside to ward off the gutsy grey Perilla (10-1) by a neck, in a time of 98,38 secs.
Miss Platina (14-1) stayed on nicely for third, a further 1,90 lengths back.
Bred by Ascot Stud, the winner is a daughter of champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the well-related Kyllachy daughter Grand Mary, whose progeny include the smart performers Grand Silvano (5 wins) and Mary O’ Reilly (5 wins).
Grand Mary is a half-sister to Gr1 Falmouth Stakes winner Rajeem, whose progeny include the speed stallion Invincible Army (Invincible Spirit).
A R450 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Mary’s Greenlight has now won 5 races with 8 places from 18 starts for stakes of R485 000.
