The Summerhill Stud bred Visionaire filly Heaps Of Fun exacted sweet revenge on her Fillies Mile conqueror Negroamaro when she led all the way and got the better of a dogged tussle over the final 300m to win the R500 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday.
Heaps Of Fun (S’manga Khumalo) holds off the attentions of Negroamaro (Anton Marcus) to win the Triple Tiara opener (Pic – JC Photos)
The Tarry team were in typical major day form and a superb ride by the Mauritzfontein-Wilgerbosdrift sponsored S’manga ‘Bling’ Khumalo, saw Anton Marcus playing second fiddle in a thrilling opening leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.
For Tarry, the victory by the obviously smart Heaps Of Fun would have echoed shades of his 2015 Triple Tiara exploits with the brilliant Siren’s Call, who failed narrowly at the final hurdle of the coveted series.
But back to the present, and what a brave tactical ride it was by the ever reliable Khumalo, who showed fine judgement when it counted most – at the jump and at the wire.
S’manga Khumalo – well judged ride
A decision to go out and dictate matters ahead of the fancied Negroamaro, looked to have turned pear shaped at the 400m as Marcus gunned the beautiful grey daughter of Fort Wood into top gear.
But despite being passed for a stride or three, the 20-1 Heaps Of Fun lived up to her name, as she caught her breath and had the last laugh, powering away to put 0,90 lengths between herself and the favourite. She clocked 98,65 secs.
Negroamaro was not disgraced, but was just not good enough on the day, with Gavin Van Zyl’s low-key contestant Frosty Friday running a smart third a further 0,90 lengths back.
She’s A Dragon snuck into fourth, with De Kock’s Persian Rug in fifth – she could be a different proposition in the next two legs.
Bred by Summerhill, Heaps Of Fun is a daughter of Visionaire out of the one-time winning Northern Guest mare, Dream Starling.
A R200 000 2014 CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run graduate, Heaps Of Fun has won three races with 2 places from 8 starts for stakes of R570 625.
It will be fascinating to see how she builds on this performance in the next leg – the R1 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic which will be run over 1800m at the same venue on 2 April.
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Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, February 27, R500k, 1600m, turf, soft, 1.38.65
1 – HEAPS OF FUN (SAF), 60.0, ch f 3, Visionaire (USA) – Dream Starling (SAF) by Northern Guest (USA). Owner Mr N D Moloi; Breeder Summerhill Stud; trainer SG Tarry; jockey S Khumalo
2 – Negroamaro (SAF), 60.0, gr f 3, Fort Wood (USA) – Touch Of Tuscan (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
3 – Frosty Friday (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Western Winter (USA) – Katici Princess (IRE) by Noverre (SAF)
Margins: 0.90, 0.80, 2.00
