The Tony Peter yard remained the toast of favourite punters when they made it two from two on Saturday’s Classic Day feature programme courtesy of the Peter de Beyer bred Canford Cliffs flyer Almond Sea, who won the R200 000 Wilgerbosdrift Listed Ruffian Stakes in emphatic fashion.
Almond Sea gives the Tony Peter yard and Calvin Habib a double (Pic – JC Photos)
Like stablemate Pistol Pete who won the males’ corresponding feature a half hour earlier and is also unbeaten in three starts, Almond Sea was always flying out front and, bar a moment or two when she was in danger of being hampered by the loose running Grey Fantacy, the race was never in doubt and she made it an aggregate of 18,75 lengths winning margin in her three starts!
There was drama at an untidy start when the 25-1 Grey Fantacy reared, unseating jockey Smanga Khumalo as the gates were sprung. The KZN visitor was puzzlingly declared a runner, but Hollywoodbets were to the fore and refunded backers of the daughter of Danon Platina.
The first 2yo winner of the 2023-2024 season, Almond Sea (1-5) ran away from her opposition to beat the 10-1 Mike Miller raider Just Reckless by 8,25 lengths in a time of 57,20 secs for the 1000m.
Bred by longstanding Cape breeder Peter de Beyer, Almond Sea is a daughter of Ridgemont star Canford Cliffs (Tagula) out of the Dupont mare Sylvie, who won once in the De Beyer silks. This is a very smart family of winners!
Raced by Johnny Peter’s Hyperpaint Syndicate, she is now 3 from 3 and took her stakes to R265 625.
There was some concern at the pull-up when the winner dug her heels in and refused to be led back to the winner’s enclosure.
Jockey Calvin Habib dismounted and unsaddled.
After being watered down, she eventually made her way back. She appeared to be distressed and feeling something. A vet report will no doubt be requested.
