Tarry On The Mark

Magical! Wilow Magic (Piere Strydom) storms home. That’s Red Ray in the background

The silence that descended after the shock defeat of the boom Cape 2yo Red Ray in the R1 million Gr1 SA Nursery was in sharp contrast to the enthusiastic roars that accompanied the Triple Tiara glory a few hours later. The fiery fast Willow Magic’s win was the start of a memorable day for the Sean Tarry Racing team.

In an industry where people talk so much yet often do so little, it was heartening to hear the charismatic and composed Sean Tarry heap praise on his brother Mark in the post race interview.

Mark Tarry via his Quest Bloodstock has played a pivotal role in the team effort over the years from a breeding and acquisition viewpoint.

Sean didn’t mince his words as he suggested that his brother didn’t get the accolades he deserved and after noting Mark’s third individual Gr1 winner sourced Down Under, expressed the hope that ‘maybe the industry will now give him a mandate and some credit.’

The pace was on from the break and Tommy Gun went quick early with Willow Magic and Jimmi Choo in his slipstream.

Into the halfway marker the hot heeled Jimmi Choo led from Arabian National and Willow Magic with Red Ray finding his stride.

But the Cape hope was lagging as the 15 to 2 shot Willow Magic burst clear at the 300m to beat Red Ray by 1,75 lengths in a time of  65.97 secs.

The previously undefeated Red Ray lost no credit in defeat and after winning his first three starts unextended, put the lid on expressions of immortality. Horses are flesh and blood. The trauma exacted in terms of the demands of travelling on a young horse can be varied. We won’t look for excuses as the winner is really very good.

Winning rider Piere Strydom confirmed afterwards that they had gone ‘a good clip’:

“ I saw horses on my outside with speed and chose to tack over. Willow Magic produced very good acceleration. Now that he is jumping, his form is getting better. Fortunately things worked out for me. I had a ride for Gavin Van Zyl in the race but Sean insisted I ride for him,” he laughed.

Trainer Sean Tarry said that the penny had dropped in Willow Magic’s third start.

“I think he is really a top class sort.I must also thank Stuart Williams who looks after my babies. He does a great job,”he said.

Willow Magic has now won 2 of his 4 starts for 2 places and took his stake earnings to R701 000.

An  Au$ 40 000 purchase, he was bred by Rothwell Park of New South Wales and is a son of Dubawi out of the thrice winning Tierce mare, La Willow.

As owner Satch Mathen said afterwards: “ Thanks to Joey Ramsden for bringing his boom horse up for the race. But there’s the real boom horse there,” he said pointing excitedly at Willow Magic.

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