Anton Marcus enjoys an armchair ride on Rich Girl to win the Strelitzia Stakes
The size of the fields for the Clairwood juvenile features on Sunday must be of some concern to the racing operator. The Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes was run over 1100m for a reasonable stake of R150 000, yet only three local stables came to the party.
A field of six for the Godolphin Barb and a field of five for the Strelitzia Stakes.
That is eleven participants for a combined stake of R300 000. Not the stuff of excitement and dreams and the scratchings are often an indication too that the acceptances are done to avoid the embarrassment of the race not standing up at time of final declarations.
And next month the locals will be whinging that the bombs are in town for the season.
It is an aspect of the local programming schedule that needs attention. Either the trainers want the races or they don’t, and it would be interesting to hear what the owners of the 2yo’s standing in their boxes and clocking up training bills are thinking.
Charles Laird bought Rich Girl well by the looks of it
Having won well at her second start, Charles Laird’s Rich Girl looked the business.
Marcus jumped her smartly and she was always going well.
Rich Girl continued galloping strongly and won by 4 lengths in a time of 65,09 secs at a starting price of 11 to 20.
Duncan Howells’ Littleblacknumber stayed on for second ahead of her stablemate What About Me.
Rich Girl was bred in Australia by Chatswood Stud Holdings Pty Ltd, Victoria and then offered for sale at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale where Charles Laird bought her for R550 000, a sum he said was ‘cheaper than expected.’
Rich Girl is by Rock Of Gibraltar out of the Giant’s Causeway mare, Miss Moguls.
She may head North for the SA Nursery or stay in KZN for the big sprint day in May.
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Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Clairwood, South Africa, April 6, R150k, 1100m, turf, good, 1.05.09 1‒RICH GIRL (AUS), 56.0, ch f 2, Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) – Miss Moguls (AUS) by Giant’s Causeway (USA). Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste; bred in Australia; trainer CS Laird; jockey A Marcus 2‒Littleblacknumber (SAF), 56.0, b f 2, Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Antonia’s Pride (SAF) by National Assembly (CAN) 3‒What About Me (SAF), 56.0, b f 2, Tiger Ridge (USA) – Rock Concert (SAF) by Lecture (USA) Margins: 4, 2¾, sh hd
