SA Champion trainer Sean Tarry saddled the top two home in the R250 000 Gr3 Acacia Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday with a duo of beautifully bred fillies fighting over the spoils in a rousing finish to the Fillies Guineas curtain raiser.
Simply Royal (Ray Danielson) gets the better of Redberry Lane (Lyle Hewitson) to register her first stakes win (Pic – JC Photographics)
In a lukewarm betting race, Tarry always looked to have a strong hand and it was the more fancied stablemate Redberry Lane who went out to show the way early under Lyle Hewitson, with Simply Royal relaxed in midfield.
Into the straight Redberry Lane continued to gallop powerfully as she drifted to the inside rail, pursued by Sylvan On Fire.
Under a confident ride by Raymond Danielson, Simply Royal found some time to catch her breath. But she got going when it mattered, and even though the gap on the rail shrunk, she bravely galloped on and found a good finish to hold Redberry Lane to a half length in a time of 96,7 secs.
The free-running Redberry Lane, still only a one-time winner, was registering her fifth runner-up placing on the trot, and must be overdue to win soon.
Candice Dawson’s Sylvan On Fire stayed on well a further 1,50 lengths back, with Sabina’s Dynasty coming from far back to secure fourth.
Raymond Danielson – polished ride
A R2,7 million 2015 National Yearling Sale purchase – where she was the fourth top lot sold – the well-related Simply Royal was registering her first stakes success and took her tally to 4 wins from 7 starts for stakes of R361 875.
An Ascot Stud-bred daughter of champion Silvano (Lomitas), the winner, who races in the AL Adiyaat SA silks, is out of the multiple winner producing Gr1 Thekwini Stakes victress , Royal Fantasy (Al Mufti).
Simply Royal is bred on the same Silvano/Al Mufti cross as champions Bold Silvano and Kings Gambit.
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Gr3 Acacia Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, March 3, R250k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.07
1 – SIMPLY ROYAL (SAF), 55.5, b f 4, Silvano (GER) – Royal Fantasy (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA). Owner Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Breeder Ascot Stud; trainer SG Tarry; jockey R Danielson
2 – Redberry Lane (SAF), 53.5, b f 4, Western Winter (USA) – Strawberry Lane (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
3 – Sylvan On Fire (SAF), 52.5, ch f 4, Silvano (GER) – Jet Flyer (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF)
Margins: 0.50, 1.50, 1.50
