In an extraordinarily simple, but well conceived tactical maiden Gr1 victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday for Randjesfontein trainer Candice Dawson, the Master Of My Fate filly Sentbydestiny lowered the colours of the top boys of her generation in the R325 000 Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes.
The sensational late burst victory for the only filly in a hotshot line-up of males produced a memorable Gr1 moment of magic for both the top lady trainer and her Mauritius-based owner Vicky Veeramootoo, who was also celebrating his first Gr1 success.
Diego De Gouveia enjoys the best day of his racing life as Sentbydestiny hammers the boys (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Include the winning breeders, the Paarl champion nursery of Varsfontein Stud, who made it three features on the trot after Anything Goes in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes and Erik The Red in the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes, and it was a popular moment despite the winner’s 20-1 rating on the betting boards.
To crown the champagne celebrations, the 24 year old Diego De Gouveia rode a cracker for a personal Gr1 double, on an afternoon where he effectively doubled his career total.
While trainer Candice Dawson, who only saddled her first winner four years ago, was not on course, she was represented by assistant Tammy Dawson at her personal first Gr1, and an elated Katherine Ralphs of CK Racing, also enjoying their first Gr1, and the team spoke of the well thought out plan to keep the options open to harvest the 2,5kg sex allowance and take on the boys from a reasonable draw.
The Vodacom Durban July day feature times of Sentbydestiny’s potential opposition on Saturday was a major factor in the game plan:
- They considered that Futura’s son Nourbese had won the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe in a time of 85,58 secs.
- Love Bomb won the girls’ equivalent in a time of 84,77 secs – with the already proven over a mile Sentbydestiny 3,60 lengths back.
A wide gate in the Thekwini put the decision beyond doubt – let’s take on the boys. And it worked a charm!
After the fancied Tempting Fate had fought his rider from a wide draw, Sentbydestiny was relaxed near the rear and had ten lengths to make up into the home straight.
But quickening like a professional, she was switched to the centre of the track by Diego De Gouveia and ate up the ground in dashing style to beat Nourbese and the fast-finishing Crimson King.
We couldn’t track the name of any previous filly to beat the boys in this race!
A daughter of Jet Master stallion Master Of My Fate, the Varsfontein-bred galloper is the fifth stakes winning filly out of Badger Land’s Listed Lady’s Slipper runner-up Princess Tobin.
She also produced recent East Cape Derby winner American Princess, the Gr2 Sceptre Stakes winner Badger’s Cove, Gr3 The Debutante winner Princess Peach and East Cape Fillies Nursery winner Princess Alberta.
A bargain buy signed for by CK Racing at just R80 000 off the 2019 National 2yo Sale when named Puffs And Tassels, Sentbydestiny has now won 2 of her 4 starts for stakes of R245 125.
She looks a filly with a sparkling future and will pay to follow – even over more ground.
