Whatalady wins the Acacia under Weichong Marwing (Pic-JC Photos)
The Stan Ferreira-trained Jet Master filly Whatalady showed that she is going places fast when upping her game yet again to score her fourth win on the trot when winning the R250 000 Gr3 Acacia Handicap in eyecatching style at Turffontein on Saturday.
A winner of 50% of her starts with cheques banked at all the others, Whatalady has continued to confound the handicapper.
On Saturday she showed further improvement and loads of heart and courage again when overcoming traffic issues to score a resounding victory in the hands of the experienced Weichong Marwing.
This was Whatalady’s first stakes victory after a relatively late start to her career, winning one of her four starts as a 3yo, before being put away and brought out three months into her 4yo year.
She looks likely to repay her connections’ patience and is getting stronger and better with each run.
Elusive Spirit and Wisdom Stone led the charge with the fancied Be Mine Tonight nicely placed a few lengths off them early.
Wisdom Stone led them for home with Elusive Spirit tracking her and Be Mine Tonight poised for a big effort.
As Wisdom Stone faded out, and with Whatalady seven lengths off them and facing a wall of horses, Be Mine Tonight grabbed the lead as Fortitude looked to cause the upset.
But with the gaps opening, Whatalady surged forward under an ice cool Marwing at the 200m on the outside and went on strongly to beat the unfancied Fortitude by a length in a time of 98,82 secs.
Be Mine Tonight ran a gallant race in defeat to hold on for third. She started favourite, althought Whatalady landed up tote favourite.
The Clifton Stud-bred Whatalady is a daughter of Jet Master out of the five-time winning Model Man mare, Vogue. That makes her a half-brother to the Bass’ well performed multiple stakes winner, Fort Vogue.
Whatalady was purchased by Laurence Wernars for R600 000 at the National Yearling Sale.
She has now won 5 races and 5 places from her 10 starts for stakes of R460 975.
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Gr3 Acacia Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, February 28, R250k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.38.82
1 – WHATALADY (SAF), 59.0, b f 4, Jet Master (SAF) – Vogue (SAF) by Model Man (SAF). Owner Messrs J F & L M F Wernars; Breeder Clifton Stud; trainer S Ferreira; jockey Wei Marwing
2 – Fortitude (SAF), 52.0, b m 5, Stronghold (GB) – Mininski (SNL) by Ahonoora (GB)
3 – Be Mine Tonight (SAF), 53.5, b f 4, Jet Master (SAF) – L’amour (USA) by Gone West (USA)
Margins: 1.00, 0.25, 1.25
