Mike de Kock and Gavin Lerena sealed the first leg of a Turffontein Sunday feature double when the Dynasty filly Storm Destiny ‘came of age’ and signalled herself a feature contender when showing courage to get up and win the R250 000 Gr3Three Troikas Stakes.
Gavin Lerena is focussed as Storm Destiny nabs Running Brave on the line (Pic – JC Photos)
Top weight and Gr1 winner Return Flight set a good gallop, followed further back by Ronnie’s Candy, Dagmar and Running Brave.
The Paul Matchett galloper Running Brave took up the pace setting duties at the 500m as the pacemaker had nothing more in the tank.
Running Brave was still galloping keenly inside the 200m but the challenges were coming wider out, as Storm Destiny, Vistula and Perfect Tigress loomed menacingly.
Running Brave started to shift out under pressure with 100m to go, while Storm Destiny shifted in, causing Vistula and Perfect Tigress to be forced inwards.
Paul Matchett’s charge still looked a likely winner coming to the line, but Gavin Lerena managed to get Running Brave’s nose down and she won by a short head in a time of 84,67 secs – quicker than her male stablemate Hawwaam a half hour later.
Perfect Tigress was not disgraced a further 1,50 lengths back in third with Vistula closing the quartet.
Bred by Ascot Stud, Storm Destiny is a daughter of Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the multiple winner producing fourteen-time winner, Stormy Appeal.
A winner of 3 races with 1 place from 6 starts for stakes of R311 187, Storm Destiny was purchased off the National Yearling Sale for R500 000.
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Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, January 6, R250k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.24.67
1 – STORM DESTINY (SAF), 56.0, b f 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Stormy Appeal (SAF) by Kilconnel (USA). Owner Mrs M Slack & Mr M B Javett; Breeder Ascot Stud; trainer MF de Kock; jockey G Lerena
2 – Running Brave (SAF), 55.0, b f 3, Brave Tin Soldier (USA) – Movingandgrooving (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF)
3 – Perfect Tigress (SAF), 55.0, b f 3, Where’s That Tiger (USA) – Tree Of Perfection (SAF) by Toreador (IRE)
Margins: 0.10, 1.50, 0.10
