Bernard Fayd’herbe keeps Hammie’s Hooker balanced to score back-to-back wins in the Tibouchina
Trainer Mike Bass continued his great run of feature race form when the Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker exploded onto the scene late to score her second consecutive win in the R250 000 Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes and register her tenth career victory. She won full of running and comfortably held off the attentions of the younger local champion, Same Jurisdiction.
A triple Gr1 runner-up in her career so far, Hammie’s Hooker has just been one of those horses loaded with talent, but born in the wrong year.
The Zandvliet Stud product has had the misfortune to bump the likes of Rumya and Beach Beauty at their peak – and that dates right back to her sophomore season when she was pipped for the title of Champion 2yo filly by the outstanding sprinter, All Is Secret.
But despite that she has managed to win two Gr2’s and has now notched up an impressive R1 727 120 with 10 wins and 13 places from her 29 starts. She should make a terrific broodmare – whenever that time comes.
Brett Crawford’s Maybe Yes (third in this race last year) was full of enthusiasm in the hands of S’manga Khumalo and she led Ataab and Red Flame.
Hammie’s Hooker was relaxed in midfield, with Same Juridsdiction near the the rear.
At the 300m marker Bernard Fayd’herbe switched Hammie’s Hooker in for her run and while she gave another daughter of Trippi in One Fine Day a solid bump, she was in full flight and simply accelerated away to grab a match winning lead.
Despite Same Jurisdiction coming on well down the outside with a sustained run, the 5-2 shot Hammie’s Hooker already had the race in the bag and she went on strongly to win by a half length in a time of 84.03 secs.
Messrs Marsh Shirtliff, Bryn Ressell and Markus Jooste went to R360 000 for her as the top selling yearling at the Cape Regional Summer Yearling Sale held at Sandringham in March 2011.
She was bred at Zandvliet Stud, and is by Trippi out of the twice-winning Damascus Gate mare Gem Queen, who was trained and owned in her racing career by Greg Ennion. She is from the ‘Susan’ family.
Bernard Fayd’herbe has enjoyed a profitable relationship with Hammie’s Hooker and has been aboard at nine of her ten victories.
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Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Greyville, South Africa, June 6, R250k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.24.03
1 – HAMMIE’S HOOKER (SAF), 60.0, b m 5, Trippi (USA) – Gem Queen (SAF) by Damascus Gate (USA). Owner Messrs M J Jooste, Bryn Ressell & N M Shirtliff; Breeder Zandvliet Stud; trainer MW Bass; jockey B Fayd’herbe
2 – Same Jurisdiction (SAF), 59.5, b f 3, Mambo In Seattle (USA) – Diana De Carlo (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF)
3 – Maybe Yes (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Tiger Ridge (USA) – Fair Enough (SAF) by Model Man (SAF)
Margins: 0.50, 0.75, 0.75
