In The Pink! Robbie Fradd steers Arcetri Pink to an easy win in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas (JC Photos)
Does she sprint or will she stay on a bit? That question has hung over the Australian bred Arcetri Pink’s lovely head for most of her impressive career but was answered in emphatic fashion at Turffontein on Saturday when she bowled her rivals over to win the R500 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
The race was the first leg of the R3,5 million Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, the richest series of races for fillies in Africa.
A smart field of thirteen 3yo fillies lined up to achieve the glorious heights scaled by Ormond Ferraris’ Cherry On The Cake last year. And Arcetri Pink produced the goods on soft ground to show that she will very likely go the 1800m of the next step to Triple Tiara triumph.
She produced a terrific burst of acceleration under Robbie Fradd in the final 300m to win by 1,50 lengths in a time of 98,73 secs at a generous 25 to 1.
Geoff Woodruff had the distinction of also filling the runner up berth when Not Sulking stayed on for second ahead of the talented Athina running on very nicely for third.
Geoff Woodruff trained the first two home in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas
Along Came Polly was a well beaten 5,75 length fourth, but showed a glimmer of her better form.
Mike De Kock’s previously unbeaten 17 to 10 favourite Santa Carolina failed to kick and ran a dismal eighth and 15 lengths off the winner.
Arcetri Pink has now won 4 races with 4 places from 12 starts.
She took her earnings with this first Group win to R756 250.
Arcetri Pink was bred in Australia by Hill Holme Lodge and is by Rock Of Gibraltar out of the Galileo mare Arcetri.
Arcetri Pink was purchased for $45,000 by Heritage Bloodstock at the 2012 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Millford Thoroughbreds and is the first foal of Arcetri, an unraced half-sister by Galileo to Gr2-winning sprinter Camena.
Sharon Patterson bought her back on behalf of her clients Ray Bisnath and Asogen Pillay for R800 000 on the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale., where Cape trainer Glen Kotzen was the under bidder.
Arcetri Pink’s owners bought her half sister by Bel Esprit last year and she is named Arcetri Dawn.
Arcetri Pink is about 15hh and Arcetri Dawn is apparently already over 16hh as a two year old.
She has just gone into training with Geoff Woodruff.
Which makes the future rather exciting and we march on to the next leg of the Triple Tiara.
That is the R1 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic to be run over 1800m at the same venue on Saturday 29 March.
Gauteng Fillies Guineas (SAf-Gr2)Turffontein, South Africa, March 1, R500k, 1600m, turf, soft, 1.38.73
1– ARCETRI PINK (AUS), 58.0, b f 3, Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) – Arcetri (AUS) by Galileo (IRE). Owner Messrs R Bisnath & Asogan Pillay; bred in Australia; trainer GV Woodruff; jockey R Fradd
2– Not Sulking (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Trippi (USA) – Dragoncharm (USA) by Silver Hawk (USA)
3– Athina (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Fort Wood (USA) – The Heiress (SAF) by Rich Man’s Gold (USA)
Margins: 1½, 2½, 1¾
