Trainer Sean Tarry showed his big match temperament again on July Day.
A great feature double for the SA Champion trainer kicked off with a courageous victory in the R600 000 Gr2 Golden Slipper for the smart Captain Al filly, Celtic Sea.
S’manga Khumalo gets Celtic Sea up on the outside to beat Mazari (Craig Zackey) in a thriller (Pic – Candiese Marnewick / Gold Circle)
The first leg of a Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift bred Gr2 feature double, the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes winner proved to be head and shoulders above her 13 opponents as she overcome a tardy start, a wide barrier gate and traffic issues to win more easily than the official margin suggests.
It was also pleasing to see the famous brown and white Beck family silks back in the winner’s enclosure again on a major day. Owner Antony Beck watched the race from Gainesway Farm in Kentucky and was represented at the trophy presentation by Abe ‘Beck’ Mahlangu.
Starting at 5-2, Celtic Sea was a popular choice and overcame a test of character at her first start at 1400m and on the turn, to go and fetch the strong-running Devon Air Stakes runner-up Mazari in the final stages.
When Craig Zackey pressed the button on the Tobie Spies-trained Mazari at the 350m marker, the daughter of Bold Silvano had her eye on the prize and wasn’t stopping.
But S’manga Khumalo was riding a confident race and he knew exactly what he had under him as Celtic Sea made ground quickly to catch the leader.
She was well in control and won by a neck in a time of 84,66 secs.
Gareth van Zyl’s maiden Can You Feel It was a further 1,75 lengths back in third, with the Gauteng visitor Running Brave running a nice race in fourth.
Sean Tarry – feature double on big day
Trainer Sean Tarry said that he knew he had the best filly in the race and wasn’t concerned about the slow start.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, Celtic Sea is a daughter of Captain Al (Al Mufti) and is out of the two-time winner Ireland (Mark Of Esteem).
A R325 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Celtic Sea made it 2 wins and 3 places from her 5 starts for stakes of R692 000. She also banked the R102 500 BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus.
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Gr2 Golden Slipper (SAf-Gr2)
Greyville, South Africa, July 7, R600k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.24.66
1 – CELTIC SEA (SAF), 60.0, b f 2, Captain Al (SAF) – Ireland (BRZ) by Mark Of Esteem (IRE). Owner Mr A R & Mrs A B L Beck; Breeder Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein; trainer SG Tarry; jockey S Khumalo
2 – Mazari (SAF), 60.0, b f 2, Bold Silvano (SAF) – Ivory Palm (SAF) by Imperial Stride (GB)
3 – Can You Feel It (SAF), 60.0, b f 2, Jackson (SAF) – Wonder Glow (SAF) by Windrush (USA)
Margins: 0.15, 1.75, 1.00
