Bernard Fayd’herbe drives the Trippi filly Hammie’s Hooker home in the Tibouchina
Patience has been the name of the game for the connections of the Trippi filly Hammie’s Hooker. A precociously talented 2yo, she achieved relatively little as a 3yo but has come good as a maturing 4yo. Her victory in Saturday’s R250 000 Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes at Clairwood was a smart effort and she could win again before the season is out.
Trainer Mike Bass would also have breathed a sigh of relief as Hammie’s Hooker broke his duck on a quiet (from a feature perspective) KZN Champions Season.
Jockey Bernard Fayd’ herbe no doubt enjoyed the rather easier ride after he had been at his best in the previous race to win the Gr1 Gold Challenge in a great exhibition of tactical race riding.
The Tibouchina win also marked a commendable feature double on the afternoon for Drakenstein staliion Trippi after Beloved Country had won the Listed Devon Air Stakes earlier.
Precocity in racehorses is often marked by an inability to train on but Hammie’s Hooker has bucked the trend and looks to be getting better as she matures, despite her mid career slump.
When Hammie’s Hooker won the Gr3 Diana Stakes in October 2013 as an early 4yo it was her first win in over sixteen months and Saturday’s victory took her another eight months to achieve.
This from an exceptional 2yo multiple stakes winner, who had won five on the trot, including three features.
On Saturday she took on some good sorts at level weights and was allowed to relax early.
Good win for Mike Bass
In a professional performance, Fayd’herbe produced her up the outside to win going away and beat the well performed Jet Aglow by 2,25 lengths in a time of 85,19 secs.
On this effort, her next win could be just around the corner.
The recent KRA Guineas winner Maybe Yes ran third, with Dolomiti catching the eye by running on too late for fourth.
Messrs Marsh Shirtliff, Bryn Ressell and Markus Jooste went to R360 000 for Hammie’s Hooker at the Cape Regional Summer Yearling Sale in March 2011.
She was bred at the home of Pocket Power, 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.
Hammie’s Hooker has won 8 races with 10 places from 21 starts and R1 174 620 in stakes.
