The Mark Dixon trained Inverroche made it a sparkling weekend Gr3 double for Mauritzfontein stallion Ideal World when she powered through late to secure top honours in the R200 000 Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes at Scottsville on Sunday.
Keagan de Melo steers Inverroche to an impressive win (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
The great versatility and class of the progeny of the son of Kingmambo was shown to good effect when 3yo gelding Rainbow Bridge won the Gr3 Winter Guineas at his second start to maintain his unbeaten record 24 hours earlier – with the year younger filly Inverroche showing much the same profile with her first stakes success.
After winning well at Scottsville on debut early in January, Inverroche was given a barrier trial at Scottsville a fortnight ago and came in to the `1100m feature on Sunday ready to fire.
Allowed to relax early on as Val-La-Ree and Star Flyer showed the way, Keagan De Melo produced Inverroche with a sustained effort at the 250m and she went on strongly to ward off a challenge from Cape raider Canukeepitsecret and Oratorio debut winner, Petra.
The Brian Burnard owned Inverroche recorded a time of a snappy 62,5 secs for the 1100m with a winning margin of a half length.
The favourite Val-La-Ree stopped late to run fifth and 2,25 lengths off the winner.
Breeders of top horses for over a century, Birch Bros bred the winner from Ideal World – a proven sire of champions in the form of Smart Call and Hermoso Mundo – and a budding star in the form of Rainbow Bridge. Inverroche is out of the one-time winner National Sensation (National Assembly).
Inverroche, a R140 000 purchase by Silver Star Racing off the 2017 KZN Yearling Sale, has won twice from two starts and took her earnings to R187 500.
She now heads for the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship on the big Scottsville Sprint day on 26 May.
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Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Scottsville, South Africa, April 29, R200k, 1100m, turf, soft, 1.02.05
1 – INVERROCHE (SAF), 58.0, b f 2, Ideal World (USA) – National Sensation (SAF) by National Assembly (CAN). Owner Mr B D Burnard; Breeder Birch Bros; trainer M Dixon; jockey K De Melo
2 – Canukeepitsecret (SAF), 58.0, b f 2, Captain Al (SAF) – Secret Of Victoria (SAF) by Goldkeeper (USA)
3 – Petra (SAF), 58.0, b f 2, Oratorio (IRE) – Loupe (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
Margins: 0.50, 0.50, 0.50
