The Dynasty Gr1 winner Lady In Black showed her class in the most exciting finish of the afternoon at Greyville on Sunday.
Sean Veale drives Lady In Black down the inside as Stu Randolph threatens the upset on Twice As Smart (Pic – Candiese Marnewick / Gold Circle)
The Gr1 Thekwini Stakes victress of last term, Lady In Black registered the first win of her 3yo season and looked the class in the twelve horse R250 000 Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes field after smart placings in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Paddock Stakes in the Cape Summer Season.
Having her first run in 13 weeks, she came from some lengths off the gallop set by Elusive Heart and looked to be drawing off to an easy win, until challenged by Twice Over filly Twice As Smart.
Sean Veale – riding well
In an exciting duel to the wire, Stuart Randolph looked to gain the ascendancy on the low-key Twice As Smart. But the topweight’s class told when it counted and Lady In Black got the verdict by a whisker in a time of 83,07 secs.
Elusive Heart stayed on doggedly for third a further 2,50 lengths adrift.
A R1,1 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Lady In Black made it 4 wins from 7 starts with 2 places and took her stakes to R984 375 – and over and above that also benefitted from the BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus of R87 500.
Bred by Willempie Engelbrecht Jnr, she is by Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the five time winner Mystery Dame (Jet Master).
Drier and Veale also scored with the enigmatic Hack Green, who found his form to win a high-class Pinnacle Stakes earlier on the day.
Lady In Black looks a nice inclusion in the Charity Turf Challenge permutations for the season.
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Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Greyville, South Africa, April 8, R250k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.23.07
1 – LADY IN BLACK (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Mystery Dame (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner Mrs N Hossack & Mr W J C Mitchell; Breeder WJ Engelbrecht Jnr; trainer DR Drier; jockey S Veale
2 – Twice As Smart (SAF), 54.0, b f 3, Twice Over (GB) – Smart Empress (SAF) by Strike Smartly (CAN)
3 – Elusive Heart (SAF), 55.5, b f 3, Elusive Fort (SAF) – Redeem My Heart (SAF) by Indigo Magic (GB)
Margins: 0.10, 2.50, 1.50
