Joey Ramsden and S’manga Khumalo are probably an unlikely professional partnership when it comes to a lot of things in life.
But the duo have teamed up over the past few weeks with great success and they capped another sunny Kenilworth Saturday with a deserved feature success.
S’manga Khumalo drives Rose In Bloom up to catch Sean Veale and Anime late (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Ramsden won the R250 000 Gr3 Prix Du Cap in 2017 with the smashing Just Sensual.
After running second in 2018 with Rose In Bloom, he returned to the scene on Saturday with his trojan filly and made amends in style.
There is no question that Brian and Kathy Finch’s Ridgemont bred filly is a soldier on the track, but her heart was close to broken during her 3yo term when she took on the stars and earned a chasing bridesmaid tag through a long summer.
But a year down the track, the 4yo Rose In Bloom is a tougher and maturer galloper and she thrived under a patient Bling ride on Saturday.
Sean Veale took the fight to the opposition and at the 200m Anime was still galloping strongly.
The Finch family enjoy the moment (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
But Rose In Bloom has learnt how to win and she came forward powerfully to set up a likely champions season ticket with a smooth win by 0,40 lengths in a time of 85,60 secs for the 1400m summer track.
She started a popular favourite and looked weighted to win – and she duly arrived in a decent field.
A multiple stakes winner, the very capable Rose In Bloom has now won 5 races and been placed 11 times from 22 starts for stakes of R860 712.
Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, Rose In Bloom is out of the eight time winner Raise The Bar (Goldkeeper).
Watch the Ramsden yard – they almost caused chaos in the Gr2 Diadem a half hour later. They are in form – see more on their new website – click here.
