Brett Crawford – nice Gr2 win
Phillipi trainer Brett Crawford drew first blood in the KZN Champions Season 2015 feature programme when Delma Sherrell’s Dynasty filly Alexis lowered the colours of some serious Gr1 performing fillies to score an impressive victory in the R300 000 KRA Gr2 Fillies Guineas at Greyville on Saturday.
With a Met and Queen’s Plate victory under his belt and the loss of a champion racehorse, it has been a bizarre season of fluctuating fortunes for Crawford.
But the astute horseman proved again that he can take the knocks and he bounced back strongly with the lightly-raced Alexis to score a confidence boosting Gr2 win.
The happy ‘A’ team – owner’s son Lance Sherrell, flanked by assistant Barry Donnelly
Often touted as something special, and the veteran of two CTS restricted sales races, the lightly raced daughter of Dynasty ran on powerfully at what was her first try at a mile to win in the hands of SMG sponsored Corne Orffer.
The field of eleven that lined up to do battle included multiple Cape Gr1 winner Inara, as well the perennial Gauteng Stakes race bridesmaid Trophy Wife.
Ataab led Cathy Specific and Zante, with Alexis relaxed in midfield.
The De Kock filly continued to lead into the home run as they fanned out.
At the 300m marker, Alexis burst clear down the outside and maintained a good gallop all the way to the line to win by 2 lengths in a time of 96,77 secs.
Joint favourite Inara ran on well for second after a break of 13 weeks,and did well after having her stride marginally interrupted late when becoming tight between horses.
The lesser fancied of the De Kock duo, Ataab, caught the eye and stayed on for third, after leading most of the way.
A jubilant Corne Orffer salutes As Alexis cruises in
Gauteng raider Sensible Lover is another who caught the eye. She was out of her ground and made up many lengths to finish on the fringes of the places.
The biggest disappointment of the race was the Dean Kannemeyer trained Real Princess who ran stone last. She had been backed into joint favourite after her two recent return wins.
The daughter of Trippi jumped awkwardly in the hands of veteran Karl Neisius, then got caught three wide, and was just too far out of her ground to launch any sort of challenge.
The Connemara Stud-bred Alexis is a daughter of Dynasty out of the Parade Leader mare Rydethecreek.
She was purchased by TM Bloodstock for R200 000 at the 2013 CTS Ready To Run Sales
Alexis took her stakes earnings to R377 875 with her fourth win and 1 place from 8 starts.
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Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas (SAf-Gr2)
Greyville, South Africa, May 2, R300k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.77
1 – ALEXIS (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Rydethecreek (SAF) by Parade Leader (USA). Owner Mrs D J Sherrell; Breeder Connemara Stud; trainer BJ Crawford; jockey C Orffer
2 – Inara (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Trippi (USA) – Mountains Of Mist (IRE) by Shirley Heights (GB)
3 – Ataab (AUS), 60.0, br f 3, Flying Spur (SAF) – Azwa (AUS) by Haafhd (GB)
Margins: 2.00, 0.05, 1.00
