The bridesmaid is now a wife! Sean Tarry’s hardknocking 4yo Trophy Wife finally cracked a long overdue stakes win on Saturday when running out a smooth winner of the R400 000 Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes at Turffontein.
Trophy Wife charges clear under S’manga Khumalo to win the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Pic – Coastal Photos)
The daughter of Tiger Ridge has lived in some giant shadows throughout her racing career and it is a credit to her heart and fighting spirit that she has not thrown in the towel.
With top three finishes in three different Gr1’s over time, she eventually finally got the credit she so richly deserved with a gutsy performance to add to a great afternoon for her top trainer and jockey.
With a great draw, S’manga Khumalo ensured that he got the 22-10 Trophy Wife into the race from the 2000m get go in the fifteen horse field and even though she was only midfield, she was better placed than in the Empress Club where she had made up lengths to run fifth.
Into the final stages and with The Centenary and Marmalady threatening, Khumalo had made all the right moves and the 4yo ran on well and finished best to beat Spook Express winner The Centenary by 0,40 lengths in a time of 124,23 secs.
Sean Tarry and Chris Van Niekerk – trophy time!
Patchit Up Baby ran her usual game race to run third, just ahead of Marmalady, who had looked menacing late but just lacked that killer kick when it really counted.
Trophy Wife was bred by Wilgerbosdrift Stud and is a daughter of the ill-fated Tiger Ridge out of the four-time winning Goldmark mare, My Squeeza.
Sean Tarry quipped in the post-race that he had kept his eye on the dam’s progeny after having being beaten by one of her daughters in a Gr1 race –“The others obviously missed that,” he said.
Trophy Wife was bought for R240 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2.
She has now won 5 races with 16 places from 24 starts and took her stakes total to a very healthy R1 678 975.
Trophy Wife will hopefully build on the confidence booster of this victory and can be followed to win more.
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Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 30, R400k, 2000m, turf, good, 2.04.23
1 – TROPHY WIFE (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Tiger Ridge (USA) – My Squeeza (SAF) by Goldmark (SAF). Owner Mr C J H Van Niekerk; Breeder Wilgerbosdrift; trainer SG Tarry; jockey S Khumalo
2 – The Centenary (NZ), 60.0, b f 4, Mastercraftsman (IRE) – Diamantaire (NZ) by Montjeu (IRE)
3 – Patchit Up Baby (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Ideal World (USA) – Qui Liz (USA) by Benny The Dip
Margins: 0.40, 0.30, 0.70
