The Jay Peg filly Peggy Jay put up a top-class SA Oaks trial at Turffontein on Saturday when she went all the way to win the R250 000 Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap under a particularly accomplished ride by Marco Van Rensburg.
All the way! Peggy Jay (Marco Van Rensburg) holds off the attentions of Patchit Up Baby to win readily (Pic – JC Photos)
Peggy Jay is one of the hardiest young lady stayers around and completed a smart hat-trick of wins for trainer Lucky Houdalakis, who really has a lovely Oaks candidate on his hands.
The youngest horse in the race, she beat a field of accomplished older gallopers.
Jockey Marco Van Rensburg had her out of the stalls quickly and said that he knew that his opposition were expecting him to lead.
“I knew there wouldn’t be pace and they were looking at me as pacemaker Nobody took me on in straight it was like jumping on a new horse as she kicked again,” he said.
Trainer Lucky Houdalakis said that the target has always been the Oaks.
“This race over 1800m was the right prep run – this filly just keeps improving and making us all proud,” he said.
Despite a late challenge from race favourite Patchit Up Baby at the 250m marker, Peggy Jay was full of enthusiasm and energy and she stayed on well all the way to the line to win by 0,90 lengths in a time of 111,02 secs.
Peggy Jay was bred by David Southey and is a 3yo daughter of Jay Peg and the third foal of the versatile seven time winner Colonial Girl (by Stage Colony), who was trained by Dean Kannemeyer to win the 2000 Gold Cup.
Peggy Jay has now won 4 races with 5 places from 14 starts and took her stakes earnings to R410 850.
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Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 2, R250k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.51.02
1 – PEGGY JAY (SAF), 54.5, b f 3, Jay Peg (SAF) – Colonial Girl (SAF) by Stage Colony (USA). Owner Gary Player Stud Farm (Nom: Mr G J Player), Mr M S Jolly, See You Next Tuesday Syndicate (Nom: Mr J W Dewes) & Mr & Mrs R A Wiggill; Breeder DGM Southey; trainer M Houdalakis; jockey M v Rensburg
2 – Patchit Up Baby (SAF), 59.5, b f 4, Ideal World (USA) – Qui Liz (USA) by Benny The Dip
3 – Pennington Sands (SAF), 54.5, b f 4, Mogok (USA) – Camina Court (SAF) by Foveros (GB)
Margins: 0.90, 0.60, 1.20
