It is often said that jockeys are the worst judges. But that maxim came slightly unstuck at Kenilworth on Sunday when Mike Bass’ retained rider Grant van Niekerk produced the Trippi mare Lanner Falcon with a sustained late run to clinch top honours in the R400 000 Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes.
‘Told you so!’ – Grant van Niekerk steers Lanner Falcon to her biggest win to date (Pic- Wayne Marks)
Mike Bass Racing maintained their outstanding record in the race by saddling the top two home – a pair of grand black-type mares, who can pace it with, and show up the best of the boys, on most days.
It was also a fifth Diadem win in 17 years for Mike Bass – who saddled his first winner in the 1200m feature when young Van Niekerk was still riding a tricycle.
Grant Van Niekerk – nice judgement
It was clear that the victory came something out of the blue, with the winner’s owner-breeders absent from the post-race presentations, hosted by leading Kannemeyer patron and big-race sponsor, Lady Christine Laidlaw of Khaya Stables.
But the man with the biggest smile on the honours stage was the rising youthful talent of Grant van Niekerk, who cheekily suggested (as subsequently confirmed by assistant Candice Robinson), that a lot of the credit for the win must go to himself.
“I think they wanted to send her to PE – so a lot of the credit must go to me. I think she is a top filly and I have always felt she might even have a Gr1 win in her along the way. She found all the way to the line. She just doesn’t like to be bustled – last time they went too fast for her over 200m shorter. This one is for Mr Bass,” chirped Van Niekerk.
Candice Robinson
Assistant trainer Candice Robinson confirmed her jockey’s claims.
“We considered a Listed race for her in PE on New Year’s day. But Grant said he’d win the Diadem, so we gave him the chance. She is so versatile and her next target will be the Majorca Stakes,” she said.
With the South Easter howling, the ten-strong field split into groups on the inside and outside of the track, with Sean Tarry’s speedy 4yo Bichette leading the charge on the outside – with Fly By Night and Gulf Storm showing the way on the inside.
Lanner Falcon was relaxed some way off the pace down the inside, and with 300m to go it was apparent that the outside group were under severe pressure as Fly By Night galloped strongly, with Gulf Storm snapping at her heels.
But Van Niekerk had switched the chestnut Lanner Falcon out for a run and the daughter of Trippi came on strongly to reel in Fly By Night inside the 100m marker and won by 1,50 lengths in a time of 72,08 secs, to secure a career peak victory.
Gulf Storm was a head back in third, with the grey bomber King Of Pain running a decent L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate prep by storming late into fourth, and 2,30 lengths off the winner.
Trippi – another stakes win
The pacesetter Bichette faded out to last.
Lanner Falcon has now won 8 races with 10 places from 28 starts and took her earnings to R1 221 025.
The Drakenstein bred mare is a daughter of Trippi, out of the USA bred French Deputy mare, Hosta, and thus hails from a Gr1 winning family.
She will make a superb broodmare one day – and don’t write off a Gr1, just yet.
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Gr2 Diadem Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 27, R400k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.12.08
1 – LANNER FALCON (SAF), 56.5, ch m 5, Trippi (USA) – Hosta (USA) by French Deputy (USA). Owner Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert); Breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer MW Bass; jockey G v Niekerk
2 – Fly By Night (SAF), 58.5, b m 6, Jet Master (SAF) – Fly The Wind (SAF) by Model Man (SAF)
3 – Gulf Storm (SAF), 59.0, b g 5, Sail From Seattle (USA) – Royal Drummer (SAF) by Kilconnel (USA)
Margins: 1.50, 0.05, 0.75
