Unforgettable! Do You Remember gets her head in front to win the Gr1 Woolavington 2000
It was sweet revenge for Geoff Woodruff’s smart Silvano filly Do You Remember when she shed her perennial bridesmaid tag to win the R750 000 Gr1 Woolavington 2000 in a thrilling finish at Greyville on Saturday. Bernard Fayd’herbe rode a cracker in a race that took some lustre off the Triple Tiara glamour of just over a month ago.
It would be easy to pick random holes in Cherry On The Top’s brilliant performances to win the Gauteng classics earlier this year. The daughter Tiger Ridge is undoubtedly an outstanding racehorse, but on Saturday she was run off her feet in a race that produced just one of many great finishes on the afternoon.
It may well be that Ormond Ferraris’ 3yo has just also gone over the top, but Do You Remember was just the reverse.
All fire and brimstone, and no doubt still smarting from the very forgettable title of Triple Tiara Bridesmaid, she came out steaming to set the record straight.
The race was run at a solid gallop with Adam Marcus’ Ashaawes filly Priceless Jewel charging clear at a suicidal gallop and a horse width off the rail to lead ahead of Blueridge Mountain and Do You Remember, with Jet Belle and Cherry On The Top further back.
Turning for home it was rather worryingly clear that Cherry On The Top was in trouble with eight lengths to make up.
Anton Marcus pressed the button on Blueridge Mountain at the top of the straight and the Majorca winner grabbed two lengths on her field as she galloped on strongly.
Thrilled. Owner Mike De Broglio celebrated his first Gr1 winner
Inside the final 300m she came under pressure and drifted inwards, as Do You Remember and Jet Belle finished with a burst with Cherry On The Top finding nothing.
In a three way thriller Blueridge Mountain cost herself valuable fuel by drifting, as Bernard Fayd’herbe scythed through the middle to grab the honours in a cracker of a finish.
Do You Remember beat Blueridge Mountain by a head in a time of 122,08 secs.
The game and consistent Jet Belle was a further head further back in third, with Cherry On The Top a disappointing fourth.
Jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe, who deserves a large percentage of the credit for a superb win, said afterwards that his good draw was a huge advantage:
“Do You Remember is one of the gutsiest little filly’s I have ever ridden. What a great performance and things worked out well as there was always going to be a pace,” he said.
An elated winning trainer Geoff Woodruff said that they had not anticipated the quick track:
“ We discussed the race plan and would have been very happy to lead .I am so pleased for owner Mike De Broglio as this was his first Gr1 winner. He also raced her dam Festive Occasion, whose nemesis was the brilliant Sun Classique,” he said.
Bred by her owner, Do You Remember is by Silvano (again!) out of the three time winning Casey Tibbs mare, Festive Occasion.
Do You Remember registered her third win from 9 starts for 5 places and R1 047 375 in stakes.
She is on a par with the best of her year and looks one worthy of following in the months ahead.
Cherry On The Top is too good to discount, but her July aspirations look to have taken a serious knock.
Woolavington 2000 (SAf-G1) (6/1)
Greyville, South Africa, June 1, R750.00, 2000m, turf, good, 2.02.08.
DO YOU REMEMBER (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Silvano (GER) – Festive Occasion (SAF) by Casey Tibbs (IRE). Owner & breeder M De Broglio; trainer GV Woodruff; jockey B Fayd’herbe (R468.750)
Blueridge Mountain (ARG), 58.0, ch f 3, Giant’s Causeway (USA) – Skyline Drive View (USA) by Distant View (USA)
Jet Belle (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Jet Master (SAF) – Bella Bianca (ARG) by Ahmad (ARG)
Margins: nose, nose, 2
