With a 100% partnership strike-rate on the day, Randjesfontein trainer Sean Tarry and jockey Gavin Lerena rounded off a terrific Christmas weekend raid on KwaZulu-Natal when they celebrated a Boxing Day feature race double as the 4yo Zimbaba stormed to victory in the R125 000 Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes.
Much like her stablemate Ikigai, who won the Listed Christmas Stakes a half hour earlier, Zimbaba ended a prolonged period in the doldrums – her last win was in the Listed Swallow Stake in January 2021 – when she stormed in from some way off the pace to register a top-class win over the year older Mount Laurel, who looked a winner close home.
Gavin Lerena steers Zimbaba to a long overdue victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes headlined a competitive card at the holiday province city venue and with the Pick 6 delivering a dividend a shade over R100 000, it was a mixed day for punters.
Enjoying her first win over ground, Zimbaba (2-1) put it all together from the widest draw to beat Mount Laurel (backed to 5-2) by 0,90 lengths with the 10-1 Lyrical Dance a further 1,20 lengths back in third.
Watch the replay here:
Bred and raced by Drakenstein, Zimbaba is a daughter of former SA Horse Of The Year Legislate (Dynasty) out of a Pivotal daughter of Zim Champion Ipi Tombe. The dam, named Pin Turn, is credited with one win in the USA.
Zimbaba has now won 3 races with 5 places from 12 stars for stakes of R252 875.
The next KZN racemeeting is at the same venue on the polytrack on Tuesday 28 December.
