Ash Cloud outstays her rivals under Weichong Marwing to win the SA Oaks (JC Photos)
Maine Chance Farms’ Storm Cat stallion Black Minnaloushe sired a rare classic double at Turffontein on Saturday with Ash Cloud preceeding Louis The King’s terrific win, with an easy victory at long odds in the R1 million Gr1 SA Oaks. Shrewd punters may have taken a position that the well bred filly would possibly improve at her first attempt at the 2450m.
Weiho Marwing’s Ash Cloud really did not look to have the credentials on paper to win a Gr1 race and with the event dominated by the top four runners, she was neglected and allowed to jump at 16 to 1.
The shrewdies may have noted that her dam has produced some really good stayers though and with a bit of luck she should have been an inclusion in the calculations for the bumper pool exotics in the 2450m stamina test.
Ash Gold was beautifully ridden by Weiho Marwing and ran on strongly bouncing away at the 300m to beat the dangerous looking Mohave Princess by 2,75 lengths in a time of 158,60 secs.
Weichong Marwing rode a great race for his brother
Gary Alexander’s A.P. Arrow filly Coby ran out of her skin to finish third, ahead of the beautiful grey Touch The Sky, who is still learning to race and can only improve.
Jet Master’s daughter Touch The Sky tried hard but struggled to get going after looking dangerous down the inside and ran what was a rather modest fourth by her standards.
The latter’s stablemate, and 17 to 20 favourite, Zephira never got into the race and finished unplaced and 7,25 lengths behind the winner.
.Ash Cloud is now a winner of 3 races with 2 places and R730 950 in earnings.
An R800 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, she was bred by Carl and Amanda De Vos (who also happen to have bred Yorker) and is by Black Minnaloushe out of the two time winning Foveros mare, Star Of Arcole.
This prolific winner producer also mothered the top class stayer Princess Of Light and recent PE multiple winner, Drill Sargeant.
This race lacked genuine depth but there is no reason to believe that Ash Cloud will not develop into a good staying prospect.
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Gr1 SA Oaks (SAf-Gr1) Turffontein, South Africa, April 26, R1 million, 2450m, turf, good, 2.38.06 1-ASH CLOUD (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Star Of Arcole (SAF) by Foveros (GB). Owner Mr D Chinsammy; breeder CF & Mrs de Vos; trainer WH Marwing; jockey Wei Marwing 2-Mohave Princess (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Mount Nelson (GB) – Our Mohave (AUS) by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) 3-Coby (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, A P Arrow (USA) – Dignify (SAF) by Rambo Dancer (USA) Margins: 2¾, 1½, 1¼
