The Wernars’ family’s white, black and red silks were prominent in the Turffontein feature action on Saturday.
Sprinkles won the Three Troikas, Outofthedarkness was pipped in the Tony Ruffel (Prince Of Fire was in third), and then Second Base found his best form to win the Gr3 London News.
The Johan Janse van Vuuren yard has clearly turned the corner and it was a well-timed early birthday present for the trainer who celebrated his 40th birthday on Sunday.
Second Base (Muzi Yeni) flies up to beat Johnny Hero (Denis Schwarz) in an exciting finish (Pic – JC Photos)
And it was South Africa’s reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight who played a leading role and was to the fore in two of the graded races on the afternoon.
The Varsfontein champion sired the exacta in the Gr3 London News Stakes, while his sons Outofthedarkness and Prince Of Fire kept William Robertson honest in the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes.
Finally finding some of his best earlier form and promise, Second Base (8-1) benefitted from a cool and confident ride by substitute jockey Muzi Yeni as he powered up the outside to snare the dangerous looking Johnny Hero (10-1) by 0,30 lengths in a time of 111,18 secs.
The consistent Astrix (4-1) stayed on for third, just ahead of Barend Botes’ soldier Golden Pheasant (9-2), who put in another honest effort, albeit for a well-beaten fourth spot.
A winner of 6 races with 6 places from 16 starts for stakes of R921 150, the Gold Star Stud-bred Second Base is out of the one-time winning Fort Wood mare Passionate Kiss. He is thus bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/Fort Wood cross as Tony Ruffel runner-up Outofthedarkness, and the graded stakes winners Gee For Go, Green Pepper and Hack Green.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2015-2016, Leading Sire of Winners and Leading Sire of 3yo’s in 2020-2021, Gimmethegreenlight has 15 lots on the upcoming Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
OFFICIAL RESULT:
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | ||||
| 1ST | 3 | SECOND BASE | J van Vuuren | M Yeni | —– | 17/2 | |
| 2ND | 2 | JOHNNY HERO | T Zackey | D Schwarz | 0,30 | 0,30 | 10/1 |
| 3RD | 5 | ASTRIX | P A Peter | W Kennedy | 0,90 | 1,20 | 7/2 |
| 4TH | 6 | GOLDEN PHEASANT | B/Y Botes Vosloo | S Khumalo | 2,55 | 3,75 | 9/2 |
| 5TH | 8 | SAVANNAH STORM | P P Vermeulen | R Danielson | 0,25 | 4,00 | 66/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 111.18 s | |||||||
| Tote Fav | 4 | MAJESTIC MOZART | A B Fortune | R Munger | 4,25 | 33/10 | |
