Stuart Pettigrew’s perennial bridesmaid Feather Boa bumped a rampant Desert Miracle at Turffontein on Saturday, and had to again be content for a runner-up cheque as the De Kock flyer found her best form to win the R1 250 000 HSH Princess Charlene Gr1 Empress Club Stakes.
History shows that it was De Kock’s eighth 21st century score in the prestigious mile, with the honour roll dating back to Fair Maiden in 2006. Then followed Little Miss Magic (2007), Mother Russia (2010), Europa Point (2012), Majmu (2015) and Nother Russia, who captured the trophy in 2017 and 2018.
Craig Zackey has Desert Miracle in front and powering home (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Winning rider Craig Zackey, who recently returned from a successful but brief New Zealand stint, has done all the work on Desert Miracle and picked up his third success here after piloting Nother Russia in the famous Oppenheimer black and yellow in consecutive years.
But the day belonged to Desert Miracle who posted a captivating win, putting to bed any doubts that she was from the very top drawer, following her G1 Majorca Stakes win in January.
As the De Kock website reports, there were some experts who felt that Desert Miracle was lucky to find champion mare Captain’s Ransom on an ‘off’ day in the Majorca and that star jockey Christophe Soumillon’s exceptional handling made a critical difference in the race.
But Saturday’s commanding performance gave credence to Mike de Kock’s long-time assessment that Desert Miracle was “as good as anything in the country when she gets to the track with no breathing problems”.
It’s invariably hit-and-miss when it comes to respiratory issues, but Desert Miracle arrived at Turffontein in the pink of health – a credit to Alson Ndlizana and Mike’s Randjesfontein team – and, as Mike predicted, she’d slay them at best.
Craig Zackey rode the perfect race – Desert Miracle was last of seven in the early part but well in touch. Once balanced in the home run, she sliced through the pack and came to outside for a storming finish.
Across the track, Feather Boa ran her heart out in second, but Desert Miracle raced on by and won by 1,25-lengths in a time of 96,92 secs.
With Marigold Hotel completing the trifecta, it meant a 1-2-3 for Wilgerbosrdift and Mauritzfontein bred gallopers!
Watch the replay here:
Zackey, who’d ridden Desert Miracle almost every day in the run-up to the race and expressed his confidence about her well-being, was emotional after the race. He said: “The more I worked her the more confident I got. I won the race twice in Jessica (Jell)’s silks and to now win it for Mrs (Mary) Slack is special. The filly did 90% of the work today.”
De Kock praised Zackey for his ride and quipped: “Craig ‘Soumilllon’ rode a top race. He had her too far back last time. I was saying to Stuart (Pettigrew, trainer of Feather Boa) that this shows how good Desert Miracle actually is.”
He added: “We bought Desert Miracle’s dam, Welwitschia, at Goffs, so Mary bred the sire of the winner, imported her daughter and now bred the Empress Club winner from her. Add this to Nother Russia’s two wins and it’s a true family affair. Well done to both farms.”
Mary Slack commented: “Desert Miracle is so beautiful and it’s wonderful to have won two Group 1 races with her this season.”
The happy trainer said that Desert Miracle’s immediate future will be discussed when the whole team meets at the National Sale next week.
“We’ll debate this at length. We’ve won two Gr1’s with her, that’s enough for her pedigree so we have to ask ourselves if we go out on a high or go for another big race or a trophy. Fortunately, Mary always puts her horses first so the right decision will be made.”
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, Desert Miracle is a daughter of late champion Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the seven time winning Oasis Dream mare, Welwitschia.
Now a winner of 6 races with 10 places from 19 starts, Desert Miracle took her stakes earnings to R2 250 750.
Desert Miracle was our cover star in the SPRINT on Wednesday 12 April!
