Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas: Beach Beauty

Beach Beauty has won five of her six starts

The stable of Dennis Drier has been in great form of late and after the spectacular victory of Val De Ra in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint recently, it was no surprise to see another up and coming star from yard Beach Beauty successful here.

A winner of four of her five previous starts, Beach Beauty was not surprisingly priced up as the favourite when the betting opened. She touched 15/10 at one point, after opening up at 18/10, but did then drop back two points as good support elevated the Mike De Kock trained Berry Blaze (33/10 into 5/2) into second favourite. Others to attract the cash were the outsiders Miss Zummerudd (33/1 into 18/1) and Legal Account (25/1 into 15/1) whilst the most notable runner to travel in the other direction was the Gr1Paddock Stakes winner Emerald Cove. She was eventually sent off at 5/1 after opening up at 28/10.

There was an air of excitement when the gates opened, but that quickly deteriorated for some as Berry Blaze lost three lengths. The speedy Miss Zummerudd on the other hand was quickly into her stride and soon in her favourite position at the head of affairs, set about her work briskly. Imperial Image and the easy to back Sauna’s Rose raced close up in second and third, whilst disputing fourth were Silent Nights and Carey’s Qui. Beach Beauty raced alongside Emerald Cove in sixth during the early part of the race and just four lengths off the pace was always poised to strike. The racing order changed little during the first half of the race and it was only coming off the bend that the action really began. Miss Zummerudd kept on determinedly in the straight, but with her rivals now fanning out to start their runs, it was always only going to be a matter of time before she came under pressure. Beach Beauty and Legal Account were faced with relatively small openings to negotiate 400m out, but after being skillfully manoeuvred by their respective jockey’s, both began to run on stoutly. Beach Beauty quickened particularly well at that point and after striking the front 100m later, she quickly grabbed a two lengths advantage. She had been ridden with just hands and heels after striking the front, but jockey Alec Forbes did then have to ask her for more when the luckless Berry Blaze came flying up close home. Approximately 3,5 lengths off Beach Beauty turning for home, Berry Blaze took a little while to get going and is sure to be well suited by the longer straight at Clairwood. She did run on particularly well in the latter stages of the race though, and beaten just a half length by the very promising Beach Beauty, and being behind at weight for age, she looks to be an exciting prospect for the future. The regular place getter Legal Account ran on stoutly to take third, whilst the gutsy Miss Zummerudd, a stable companion to the favourite, stayed on gamely for fourth.

A daughter of Dynasty out of the Capture Him mare Sun Coast, Beach Beauty has already amassed stake earnings of over R382,000. She’s won her last three races by quickening clear with a very powerful burst of speed and is in fact unbeaten since going beyond sprint distances. She won well here and the manner of her victory would suggest that she has a very bright future ahead of her.

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