The Champion Day feature menu kicked off on something of a sour note for favourite backers as Tony Peter’s unbeaten speedball Almond Sea had to play third fiddle to Cape Racing Sale Slipper winner Little Ballerina and the KZN raider Just Reckless in the R350 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery.
Little Ballerina (Gavin Lerena) gets the better of KZN raider Just Reckless (Kabelo Matsunyane) in the opening feature on Champions Day (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Despite both the top two boasting good form, Almond Sea started in the red to make it four straight victories.
But it was not to be.
Showing plenty of speed at her first start beyond 1000m, Almond Sea folded inside the 140m marker, and it was left to Candice Dawson’s Cape feature winner Little Ballerina (6-1) to give Gavin Lerena an early double on the big day as she soared to an eye-catching victory by three quarters of a length in a time of 69,09 secs.
Mike Miller’s team will be thrilled with the performance of their Boland Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly Just Reckless, who stayed on to knock out over 180 000 Bipot combinations.
Almond Sea didn’t appear to cope with the extra 160m and also the slightly sticky going, and was a half length back in third.
A R300 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy, Little Ballerina has won 2 races with a place from 4 starts and stakes to R1 095 000.
Raced by Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs) & Larry Nestadt, the winner was bred by Maine Chance Farms, the Doyle family, and Silver Ripples (Pty) Ltd.
Little Ballerina is by Maine Chance champion Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Ireland placed Fastnet Rock mare, Little Fastnet.
She looks a natural for the Allan Robertson Championship down at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in June.
