Vaal trainer Corne Spies rekindled memories of his Golden Horse Sprint day glory years of earlier this century at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, when the fiery fast Potala Palace filly Singforafa blazed a path to glory in the R500 000 Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, brought to you by The Witness.
The daughter of Ridgemont Highlands Singspiel stallion Potala Palace made amends for a narrow third in the same event last year behind champions Celtic Sea and Run Fox Run, when she carved her path from the 1200m jump to win in great style.
Ryan Munger guides Singforafa to a memorable victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Singforafa also ran third in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship in 2019 and her Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer Corne Spies confirmed that his charge enjoys the Hollywoodbets Scottsville track – a fact that is patently clear!
Former Singapore-based Ryan Munger was in the saddle and followed his colleague Calvin Habib’s lead of earlier by breaking his career Gr1 ice with a composed ride.
Munger modestly paid all the credit to the 4yo flyer, who ran her highly vaunted opposition off their feet and stayed on powerfully at 33-1 in a time of 68,57 secs – the fastest of the three Gr1’s up to then – to beat the year younger Gr1 winner Vernichey by just over 2 lengths.
Candice Dawson will be thrilled by the showing of Gallic Princess (25-1), who came through late and was only shaded a nose into third.
The favourite True To Life arrived too late for Place Accumulator players and ran fourth.
Singforafa was a deserved first Gr1 winner for Singspiel stallion Potala Palace, who has proven himself a versatile producer of quality from relatively limited opportunity.
Bred by the late Nico Swart from the thrice winning Whistling Wood mare First Whistle, the winner races in the silks of the trainer’s legal eagle son, Xander Spies.
Singforafa has won 6 races with 8 races from 26 starts for stakes of R890 375.
Watch the replay:
