Just! Anthony Delpech keeps Franny at it to beat a flying King’s Temptress in the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap
The 3yo Trippi filly Franny held on just long enough to add the R165 000 Gr3 Magnolia Handicap trophy to her impressive career record at Turffontein on Saturday.Gavin Van Zyl trains her for South African horseracing’s first lady, Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer, who made a rare trip to Turffontein to enjoy the win.
The fillies and mares sprint feature produced a thrilling finish with Franny outlasting Kom Naidoo’s improved again King’s Temptress.
While jockey Anthony Delpech did not have to get vigorously animated, one had the impression that Franny had just about nothing left and was hanging in rather badly in the final stages. But the cheque is in the bank.
Franny dominated the race from the jump showing her usual blistering pace just ahead of the chasing pack that were led by Kinematic Countess, Ferrari Dawn, She’s A Stunner, Crissy Sanchez and KZN visitor Reason To Believe.
Heading into the final stages Franny had increased her lead to two lengths with Ferrari Dawn and She’s A Stunner looking dangerous.
Elated. South African horseracing’s first lady Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer owns the winner
Inside the final 200m she appeared to hang in slightly under pressure and her old nemesis, SA Fillies Nursery winner King’s Temptress shot out of the pack and cut Franny’s lead right down to a head.
Franny, who went off at 2-1 and won in a time of 66,41 secs from King’s Temptress, with the Stan Ferreira longshot Kalaam running a cracker in third.
While Franny started a lukewarm favourite, there were quite a few disappointments in a race which left a few reputations in tatters.
Key amongst these were She’s A Stunner and Ferrari Dawn who were both fancied and showed plenty of toe but faded out to 9,25 and 13 lengths respectively.
The Highlands Farms- bred Franny is by Trippi out of the National Assembly mare, Scented Samantha. Franny’s four-time winning dam only won up to 1200m and she looks limited to just short of that.
Franny is a R275 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate.This was her sixth outing and she boasts an excellent record of 3 wins and 3 places for stake earnings of R444 625.
There can be few faster fillies around up to 1000m!
