Vaal trainer Corrie Lensley continued his dream season when the Ambiance Stud-bred 3yo Alesian Chief went beyond the 1000m marker for the first time to win the R200 000 World Sports Betting Gr3 Merchants at the weather-delayed Turffontein meeting on Tuesday.
Deserted by regular pilot Muzi Yeni in favour of the bigger fish Battle Force, Alesian Chief came out with all jets firing and after cutting throats briefly with the Spies flyer Singforafa, showed that his recent Listed Golden Loom Sprint success was no flash in the pan.
Jarryd Penny (white cap) steers Alesian Chief to a career peak win in the WSB Gr3 Merchants (Pic – JC Photos)
Alesian Chief (6-1) stayed on powerfully under his galloping 52kgs to beat Bartholdi (7-1) by 0,75 lengths in a time of 66,89 secs for the 1160m.
KZN visitor Cartel Captain (25-1) had no luck but stayed on well for third a further quarter length back, with Ikigai (16-1) in fourth.
Ridden to perfection by journeyman jockey Jarryd Penny, who only booted home his first Gr3 in the 2016 Tommy Hotspur on Viking Hero for Grant Maroun, Alesian Chief is clearly progressive and his trainer’s aspirations of the Gr1 Computaform Sprint may not be far-fetched.
“I woke up in a sweat. There were six Gr1 winners in the field. And I know he got weight – but he is a 3yo – he should. He showed today how good he is. And thanks to Jarryd Penny. He came to ride him and said he has never sat on a horse that loves running this much!”added the enthusiastic Corrie Lensley, who has beaten the odds between Flamingo Park and Milnerton to bounce back to the top rank.
Part -owner Peet Boonzaaier said he had almost suffered a heart attack and unashamedly labelled Alesian Chief the ‘best sprinter in South Africa’.
Bred by Ambiance Stud, Alesian Chief has now won 4 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R356 250.
He is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the five-time winning Var mare, All In The Mind.
OFFICIAL RESULT:
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | ||||
| 1ST | 13 | ALESIAN CHIEF | C J Lensley | J Penny | —– | 11/2 | |
| 2ND | 14 | BARTHOLDI | M/A Azzie | M van Rensburg | 0,75 | 0,75 | 6/1 |
| 3RD | 7 | CARTEL CAPTAIN | D R Drier | R Danielson | 0,25 | 1,00 | 25/1 |
| 4TH | 11 | IKIGAI | S G Tarry | G van Niekerk | 0,75 | 1,75 | 16/1 |
| 5TH | 5 | ULTRA MAGNUS | P B Muscutt | D Dillon | 0,25 | 2,00 | 14/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 66.89 s | |||||||
| Tote Fav | 4 | MK’S PRIDE | P A Peter | W Kennedy | 13,00 | 4/1 | |
