Sean Tarry has enjoyed a winning association with leading Cape breeders Avontuur and he looks to have another very decent sort on his hands. The well-bred Jet Master filly Off The Mark stepped back into the limelight with an impressive late dash win in the R250 000 Gr3 Acacia Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.
Off The Mark (JP van der Merwe) beats Sensible Lover (Callan Murray) to register her first stakes win (Pic – JC Photos)
Off The Mark won early on at her third outing when very highly thought of by the SA champion trainer, but appeared to have lost her way somewhere down the road.
But easy to back on Saturday at 7-1, she came storming home and looks to have strengthened up and is maturing into a filly that will win plenty.
It was a race of mixed emotions for her trainer Sean Tarry, who saddled the favourite Seventh Heart. The daughter of Seventh Rock was given every chance but fell in a hole to run seventh and 3,30 lengths behind the winner. She proved she doesn’t go a mile and she is unlikely to be tried over the trip again.
Cassie O’Malley led for a long way from Kwinta, with Noor and Sensible Lover in the firing line.
JP van der Merwe
Off The Mark was settled closer to last early on, but was gradually brought into the action and within striking distance by young JP van der Merwe, who can do little wrong at the moment.
At the 200m Off The Mark was in full stride and she stayed on too strongly for the improved again Sensible Lover, who came out firing after a dull Cape campaign.
The winning margin was a comfortable 0,40 lengths and the time was registered at 98,36 secs.
Mike de Kock’s Noor stayed on well for third, ahead of the ever present Cassie O’Malley who ran a decent race after showing pace.
Off The Mark was registering her first stakes victory and being a well-bred filly, she has certainly enhanced her paddock value. She has now won 4 races with 3 places from 10 starts and stakes of R405 250.
An R800 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 purchase, she was bred by Avontuur and is by Jet Master out of the four-time winning Sportsworld mare, Sport’s Chestnut.
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Gr3 Acacia Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, February 27, R250k, 1600m, turf, soft, 1.38.36
1 – OFF THE MARK (SAF), 52.0, b f 4, Jet Master (SAF) – Sport’s Chestnut (SAF) by Sportsworld (USA). Owner Mr C J H Van Niekerk; Breeder Avontuur Farm; trainer SG Tarry; jockey JP vd Merwe
2 – Sensible Lover (AUS), 53.5, b f 4, Good Journey (USA) – Almah (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
3 – Noor (SAF), 53.5, b f 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Express Queen (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF)
Margins: 0.40, 1.25, 0.05
