The Maine Chance bred Masked Vigilante, a R90 000 sale graduate, won the third running of the R200 000 GG Gaming Klawervlei Farm Sale Graduate Race in grand style from a wide gate at a sunny Durbanville on Sunday.
The only winner in a race restricted to graduates of the Klawervlei Farm Sale and reduced to twelve runners with the late scratching at the start of Justforkix, Masked Vigilante started at 7-2.
Greg Cheyne sends Masked Vigilante for home in a good victory from his wide gate (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
Under a polished ride by Ridgemont jockey Greg Cheyne, the colt overcame the widest barrier gate to overtake the long-time leader Persistance (10-1) close to home and drew off to register a happy victory in the Sherrell silks.
Now unbeaten in two starts, Masked Vigilante clocked 75,15 secs for the 1250m and beat Persistance by two lengths.
Both the top two were bred by Maine Chance.
Justin Snaith’s Rafeef daughter Zambaq (15-2) ran an improved race a further 0,40 lengths adrift in third after showing up well.
The Kotzen charge Oh So Squishy (50-1) came from the clouds to grab the final stake dividend in fourth in an eyecatching effort.
The unlucky horse of the race is probably fifth placed Karen Blixen (10-1), who encountered traffic problems at a crucial stage when making her run down the inside. Her owners may feel a bit unlucky at going home empty handed.
The masked vigilantes lead in their big winner! (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Hailing from the sale where he found his Gr1 winner Edict Of Nantes, trainer Brett Crawford said philosophically that he believed ‘horses find you’.
“Lance Sherrell and Mike Sharkey were big on this youngster. To get a Vercingetorix for the price we paid – it shows you need a bit of luck in life!” he added.
A son of boom sire Vercingetorix (Silvano), who produced another feature winner at Turffontein 24 hours earlier, the winner is out of the Casey Tibbs one-time winner Masked Lady.
He took his earnings to R154 200 in two starts.
The 2021 renewal of the popular farm sale has been rebranded to the CTS-De Grendel Farm Sale and will be held on 20 June.
Grant Knowles, Bloodstock and Marketing Director of CTS, is on record saying they the dynamic sales company look forward to partnering with Klawervlei, along with their fellow breeders, for the 2021 Farm Sale. “We will look to maintain the unique Farm Sale experience, while delivering new and exciting initiatives to the event, ensuring further growth and success.”
