What A Rush! Pearl Rush (Fanie Chambers) scores an easy win in the Flamingo Park Handicap
Who said a good colt will always beat a good filly? Jannie Pienaar’s Windrush filly Pearl Rush disproved that maxim as she left the older males gasping for air in her pretty wake, when storming clear to win Monday’s R100 000 Flamingo Park Handicap on the Kimberley sand.
It would be very interesting to find the statistics as to when last the Kimberley horse of the year trophy was inscribed with the name of a member of the fairer sex, but the smart 4yo threw her name into the hat along with a few others,with another outstanding display.
It is admittedly early days yet, but Pearl Rush is the revelation of the season. Consider the fact that she only shed her maiden on 4 August, she has won 5 of her 6 starts since with an aggregate winning margin of 16,25 lengths!
The 1800m non black type feature hosted a nine horse field led by the smart Dorrie Sham gelding Claverhouse who, took them along at a fair clip, from the filly Fun Police, who had been bounced by her young rider to overcome her poor draw.
Night Landing was next, just ahead of the grey Dolomite, with Pearl Rush caught wide ahead of Phi and Eye Of The World.
Claverhouse continued to gallop powerfully into the home straight, as he was tackled by Pearl Rush, who quickly took over as Sherman Brown fired Eye Of The World up for his run.
Inside the final 200m, Pearl Rush strode clear with Eye Of The World staying on doggedly ahead of the game Claverhouse.
Pearl Rush went on to win by 1.75 lengths in a time of 112,59 secs.
Winning rider Fanie Chambers said that he had never ridden Pearl Rush before.
“I had a choice of a few rides and had to waste a bit to ride her. But it is nice that I made the right decision. She is a gutsy filly,” he said.
Trainer JanniePienaar, who trains Pearl Rush for his father, explained that Pearl Rush was lightly raced as she had ‘some problems earlier’ .
“She bled and was suspended. We had no choice but to rest her and then there were no suitable races…She carried some weight. But we knew how good she was,” he exclaimed as he passed his well wishes on to his father and his children.
Pearl Rush is by Windrush out of the unraced Al Mufti mare, Indian Pearl.
She was bred by Eagle Stud and cost just R30 000 on the National Two Year Old Sale. She took her winning tally to 5 first cheques and 6 places from 15 starts.
Her career stake earnings now total R219 400, and she looks set to win plenty more.
