Very Smart. Espumanti and Anthony Delpech cruise clear to win the Ipi Tombe Challenge (JC Photos)
Mike De Kock and Anthony Delpech delivered the popular banker bet on Turffontein’s big day when the classy UK bred Espumanti came home easily to win the R300 000 Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. The daughter of Dansili looks to have a very bright future.
The Northern Hemisphere bred filly is improving with every run and she put in a performance full of character to win a race named in honour of one of her trainer’s best ever horses.
Dominic Zaki’s Sea Shadow took the fight to the enemy and she led at a cracking pace from Flitter, with Espumanti and Dirtydealin Mamma further back.
Sea Shadow still held a big lead inside the final 300m but suddenly shortened her stride as Espumanti stalked her and drew alongside before going away smartly.
Delpech rode a supremely confident race and steered Espumanti to win readily by 1,50 lengths in a time of 97,16 secs.
The pacemaking Sea Shadow was given a good few wacks on the rump by Gavin Lerena, and she stayed on to run an unlikely but very game second.
The top class Do You Remember was in dire need of the run, but stayed on well to run third.
Jockey Muzi Yeni, who rode the fourth placed Twitter, may find himself in hot water after his ride in this race.
The Stipes reported that at approximately the 1300 metre mark Flitter (M Yeni) shifted inwards carrying Dirtydealin Mama (I Sturgeon) in. This resulted in Espumanti (GB) (A Delpech) becoming momentarily cramped for galloping room on the inside running rail and Music Affair (G Wrogemann) becoming cramped for galloping room clipping the heels of Dirtydealin Mama (I Sturgeon) stumbling badly. This is turn led to Amur Affair (K Latham) having to check and Classic Illusion (S Khumalo) being forced to switch outwards and Do You Remember (R Fradd) having to ease.
An Inquiry will be held into this incident.
Espumanti was bred by New England Stud, Myriad and N. Wright and is by Dansili out of the British bred Reprimand mare, Jouet.
She took her stake earnings with the fifth win from ten starts with 3 places, to all of R631 250.
Mike De Kock commented: “Espumanti is getting better as she goes on and we’ll take her to Cape Town for the Paddock Stakes next. She’ll be a great addition to Wilgerbosdrift Stud. Well done to Mary, who saw Espumanti’s potential early and bought her mother before Espumanti had fully proven herself.”
The Wilgerbosdrift breeder was thrilled and said: “I wasn’t worried when Sea Shadow raced clear of our filly. I knew Espumanti would get there. What I like about her is that she’s been beaten only by the very best fillies around.”
