The Varsfontein-bred VJ’s Angel joined fairer sex counterparts Sentbydestiny (2020), Arabian Lass (1996) and Roland’s Song (1988) to have beaten the boys over the past half century in the R1 million World Pool Moment Of The Day Gr1 Champion Stakes run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
A delighted Calvin Habib salutes as VJ’s Angel storms home to beat The Specialist (Smanga Khumalo) and Grand Crescendo (Muzi Yeni) in a superb finish (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Raced as the Premiers Champion Stakes in years past, the 2024 renewal was the final Grade 1 contest for 2yo’s of the 2023/24 season, and produced a thrilling finish for the Turffontein-based Tony Peter team and jockey Calvin Habib, who took on thirteen males with a clearly decent filly.
Allowed to relax by Calvin Habib as Family Law and The Specialist showed the way early, VJ’s Angel made steady ground in the home run as The Specialist and Grand Crescendo went head to head down the rail.
With the two top males scrumming away and watching each other on the rail, Habib unleashed VJ’s Angel (10-1) down the centre and she went on strongly to grab a 0,70 length victory in a time of 96,26 secs.
The Specialist (9-2) shaded the good-looking Grand Crescendo (16-1) by a quarter length, with Great Plains staying on from some way back at 6-1.
The 5-2 favourite Cosmic Speed failed to repeat his Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe victory form, and faded out to seventh and over 5 lengths off the winner.
Picked by Gavin Zyl as a R200 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, VJ’s Angel is raced by the Palmer family and was bred by the Varsfontein Stud, who also bred the 2020 fairer sex winner of this race, Sentbydestiny.
By multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), the impressive winner is out of the Oratorio one-time winner Tally-Ho and made it 4 wins with 2 places from 7 starts and stakes of R900 000, on a day her seasoned owners labelled the biggest of their racing lives!
