Gr3 Man O' War - Shea Shea
Wide-margin winners were the order of the day in several of the eight Feature events on a soggy Turffontein track and the Man O’ War Sprint for three-year-olds over 1100m was no exception. Shea Shea, who seemed not to stay 1600m when unplaced in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas in February, went off as the 15/10 favourite against seven rivals and relished the drop in distance, running out a very easy winner, writes Matthew Lips.
Timeofreckoning and Captain’s Key showed plenty of early pace, with Shea Shea prominent just in behind them. Burmese Cat was not far away, but the others were beaten for early speed in a contest that was run at a very quick tempo. It soon turned into a one-horse race, though, with Shea Shea quickly asserting his superiority from 300m out and drawing right away under Anthony Delpech to win by 5.25 lengths. Count Express was well outpaced early on, as is usually his wont, but he ran on to finish second, 1.25 lengths ahead of 100/1 outsider Jannu. The latter had changed stables after easily winning a weak maiden at the Vaal in January and was making his debut for trainer Coenie de Beer, who must have been well pleased with his new charge’s performance. Timeofreckoing weakened to finish fourth, while Captain’s Key faded almost to nothing inside the final furlong and ran well below his best despite having won on very soft ground previously.
Shea Shea was the winner of a Listed event over 1400m in December, but that could be about as far as he stays and he looked a more than useful sprinter here. Geoff Woodruff’s colt may well be a sprinter of real note in the making. He only met Count Express on 1 kg better terms than would have applied in a handicap, but he won far more easily than that and is one to follow even though Saturday’s testing conditions must have had a real impact on the results.
A son of National Emblem out of the Listed-winning Jallad mare Yankee Clipper (who won up to 1600m), Shea Shea was bred at Klawervlei Stud and was bought for R550 000 at the 2009 National Yearling Sale. He has won five of his ten starts, earning R435 750.
.
Man O’War Sprint (SAf-G3) (3/26)
Turffontein, South Africa, March 26, R200.000, 1100m, turf, soft, 1.04.32 (CR 1.01.65). SHEA SHEA (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, National Emblem (SAF) – Yankee Clipper (SAF) by Jallad. Owner B Joffe and M C Berzack; breeder Klawervlei Stud (SAF); trainer G V Woodruff; jockey A Delpech (R125.000) Count Express (SAF), 60.0, b g 3, Count Dubois (GB) – Jalberry (SAF) by Jallad Jannu (SAF), 54.0, b g 3, Jallad – Happy Jean by Charismatic Margins: 5¼, 1¼, 2 Also ran: Timeofreckoning (SAF) 57.0, Captain’s Key (SAF) 60.0, Burmese Cat (SAF) 58.5, Umfutho (SAF) 54.0, Crissy Sanchez (SAF) 50.0, Furious Dancer (SAF) 58.5
