Glen Hatt steers Maybe Yes to a Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas win
Brett Crawford’s Tiger Ridge filly Maybe Yes registered a first stakes win at her maiden attempt at a mile when running out an easy winner of the R300 000 Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas at Greyville on Saturday.The win, described as ‘no fluke’ by jockey Glen Hatt, was a fitting way to launch the 2014 Champions Season
Going into a Gr2 underdone is never a recommended practice but Maybe Yes had been scratched on the eve of her intended prep outing in the Umzimkhulu Stakes and thus had her trainer suggesting that she may need the outing on Saturday.
But it was not to be and Glen Hatt introduced her at the 300m down the inside rail to show the inestimable advantage of a great draw and a modest pace that suited her down to the ground.
Justin Snaith’s In The Fast Lane was the talking horse in a field of twelve that saw three smart Gauteng fillies, including Joey Soma’s recent Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner Athina, in the mix.
In The Fast Lane went off a 15 to 10 favourite jumping from a 1 draw and had every chance after being beautifully placed by the bang in form Richard Fourie, who is riding with such confidence.
But it was Maybe Yes who bounced clear and drew off to beat a strong finishing Gauteng visitor Not Sulking by 1, 75 in a time for the mile of 95,96 secs.
In The Fast Lane may have needed the run and was a touch flatfooted in third with Lanner Falcon running on steadily from her bad draw to grab fourth cheque.
A feature of the race was the brave but ill conceived rush by Alascan Maiden, who was switched out through the bend by Brandon Lerena and rushed around her field. She unsurprisingly faded and finished stone last.
Apparently trainer Paul Lafferty was also not thrilled with S’manga Khumalo’s ride on Goldie Coast either.
Winning jockey Glen Hatt said that Maybe Yes was a ‘tricky filly’ and he added that she ‘has issues’.
“She really can run and this was no fluke They didn’t go fast and that suited us,” he said.
Trainer Brett Crawford confirmed that Maybe Yes had missed much of the Cape Season and had been frustrating as she had plenty of ability. He added that the race had suited her beautifully.
Maybe Yes hails from a family of stakes winners. She was bred by Wilgerbosdrift Stud and is a daughter of Tiger Ridge out of the one time winning Model Man mare, Fair Enough, who won her race over 1000m as a 3yo, from 23 starts.
She is a three parts sister to the stakes winning Ramblin’ Jac Eliot (by Elliodor) and a half to another stakes winner in Start Me Up (by Jet Master). The next dam is a full sister to stakes winner Springing Guest.
Maybe Yes was purchased at the 2011 Cape Mare and Weanling sale at Sandringham in Stellenbosch, where she was the highest priced weanling at the sale,
She has won 4 races from 7 starts with 2 places and took her earnings to R342 275.
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Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas (SAf-Gr2) Greyville, South Africa, May 3, R300k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.35.96 1– MAYBE YES (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Tiger Ridge (USA) – Fair Enough (SAF) by Model Man (SAF). Owner Messrs G M Grant, C S Haynes, Mr & Mrs F Ladeira & Miss J B Slack; breeder Wilgerbosdrift; trainer BJ Crawford; jockey G Hatt 2– Not Sulking (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Trippi (USA) – Dragoncharm (USA) by Silver Hawk (USA) 3– In The Fast Lane (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Jet Master (SAF) – First Arrival (SAF) by Northern Guest (USA) Margins: 1¾, ¾ , ½
