Royal Runner! King’s Temptress (Robbie Fradd) wins the Gr3 Three Troikas
King’s Temptress finally put it all together again when she soared clear to win the R175 000 Gr3 Three Troikas run over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday.
King’s Temptress is the newsmaker of last year who won the Gr2 Fillies Nursery on debut at any price when prepared by Kimberley trainer Coerie Lensley.
She is now based with Kum Naidoo in KZN and has failed to win in her subsequent seven starts.
The quality field was reduced to ten with the scratching of the unbeaten Espumanti due to a respiratory disease. Music Affair was also withdrawn late after rearing in the pens and injuring herself.
The race was run at a good pace with MJ Odendaal bringing Flitter across from her wide draw to lead Sea Shadow and Sheen Queen. In the early stages the fancied runners were closer to last.
Into the straight Flitter continued to lead with Strydom angling Sea Shadow out for her dash, as Cherry On The Top was set alight in the centre.
Robbie Fradd was hard at work on King’s Temptress and took her down the inside rail in a match winning move, He got her into top gear inside the final 250m where she grabbed a winning advantage and skipped clear.
Cherry On The Top lacked her usual zest (she was in season) but stayed on well enough, while Sea Shadow ran a gallant third after being amongst the action all the way.
King’s Temptress beat Fillies Mile victress Cherry On The Top by 3,50 lengths, in a time of 88,13 secs. This was interestingly 0, 64 secs faster than Fantastic Mr Fox a half hour earlier.
King’s Temptress was ridden carrying 52,6kg, which is 1 kg over the carded weight. No further explanation is provided by the Stipes Report.
The second placed favourite Cherry On The Top was found to be in season afterwards.
Sean Tarry’s Amber Orchid was ridden by Anthony Delpech, who weighed out at 52.7kg, 0.5kg over the carded weight. She ran a most disappointing race after being squeezed out shortly after the start. Delpech also reported this filly not striding out.
Corne Spies’ Rebel Queen also ran a poor race and was reported not striding out on the left fore and returned with a speedy cut on the left hind.
The Waterford Stud bred King’s Temptress is by King Of Kings out of the Gr1 winning Golden Taipan’s unraced half sister Model Mam’selle (by Model Man).
King’s Temptress has now won 2 of 9 starts for 5 places. She took her earnings to R463 875.
She cost just R70 000 at the National Yearling Sale, and now that she has found her winning ways could pay to follow.
