Simply Drilled

Beach Beauty wins the Drill Hall Stakes for second year running

It goes without saying that the Dynasty mare Beach Beauty is a superbly talented racer. But the jockeyship of Sean Cormack played a major role in her winning the R350 000 Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes  run at Greyville on Saturday,  for the second year in a row.

It was a miserable week for the Drier yard, with the brilliant Master Of Mate and their Fillies Guineas contender Eventual Angel both injuring themselves.

But  Beach Beauty came to the rescue as she has done so often in the past.

The false rail at Greyville was set at 4m and the day’s racing  proved  that the draw, jockeyship and luck in running have become vital at the City track. This is particularly so in races from 1000m to 1400m where fields of ten or more are involved.

There was a certain desperation, untidiness and urgency about many of the final 400m dashes on the afternoon. It is hoped  that this won’t impact on too many top horses in the next few months.

But on the other hand, Sean Cormack demonstrated just how top jockeys and great horses can make getting out of sticky situations look like child’s play.

Jumping from a 9 draw (after scratchings) in the field of twelve,  Beach Beauty was comfortable about eight lengths  off the pace as Distinguished went off like a scalded cat to make things hot from the jump.

Sean Cormack rode a good race

The 2 to 1 favourite Capetown Noir was less fortunate and didn’t have the best of passages as Karl Neisius battled to get him settled and in position.

As Distingusihed came under pressure in the run for home the field fanned out with Here Comes Billy looking dangerous. But it was all over as a contest at the 300m as Beach Beauty stormed through the centre of  the track to win going away by 2,50 lengths in a time of 82,99 secs.

Capetown Noir hit a few traffic jams and only quickened late in the final stages. Despite finishing well, he was run out of second place by a superb late dash by the poorly drawn Rio Carnival.

Jockey Sean Cormack said that it had not been easy from a bad draw but that they went hard and he was able to get Beach Beauty in a nice position.  It was Cormack’s tenth victory aboard the champion.

Trainer Dennis Drier was still recovering from a bad week. He said that they were still worried about facing  males in a quality field, but that their faith had been vindicated.

In an extraordinary admission, Drier said that he had made ‘one mistake’  with Beach Beauty.

Dennis Drier trained winner

“I should have sent her overseas with Mike De Kock two years ago,” he said.

The stipes reported that Distinguished was examined by the Vet and nothing abnormal was found. Silvano’s Jet returned  lame and coughing, while the Snaith’s Jet explorer suffered a mouth injury.

Bred by Trevor Armitage, Beach Beauty is by Dynasty out of the three-time winning Capture Him mare, Sun Coast.

Beach Beauty has run 29 times for 16 wins and 9 places.

She took her earnings to R4 633 453 and looks likely to retire at the end of the season to Drakenstein Stud.

She has to be a terrific broodmare in the making, despite her obvious lack of bulk.

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