Former Sorrento stallion Royal Air Force sired his first stakes winner at Kenilworth on Saturday when the Mike Robinson trained Goodtime Gal stormed home to win the R250 000 Gr3 Victress Stakes.
Richard Fourie steers Goodtime Gal to a smooth win (Pic – Wayne Marks)
The strapping son of Jet Master – he stands at 17 hands – has sadly been consigned to covering non thoroughbreds in Pretoria these days after a lack of opportunity denied him any real chance of establishing himself as a commercial stallion.
Sorrento’s Terry Andrews was thrilled with the stakes win, which went some way to vindicating his belief in the sire.
Royal Air Force (Jet Master – Regal Blue)
“The shareholders didn’t have the mares in any numbers to send to him and without the opportunity, it is very difficult to get enough runners on the tracks to get the momentum going. But that is the nature of life. I am glad we have a few of his progeny and we are hopeful of their prospects,” said the veteran stud master.
Trained by Geoff Woodruff, Royal Air Force ran only 14 times for 4 wins in the interests of the late Abe Swersky and Woodruff’s famous father in law, Terrance Millard.His biggest win was registered in the 2007 Gr2 Astrapak 1900.
Another man who was smiling after the Victress Stakes was Phillipi soldier Mike Robinson, who last saddled a Gr3 winner back in 2014 when Jay Peg’s daughter Hot Affair scorched to victory in the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery.
Mike Robinson – Gr3 success
Robinson had the consistent Goodtime Gal tuned to the minute and the in-form Richard Fourie put the cherry on the cake, producing the 4yo at the 200m with a finely timed run after pacesetter Harlem Shake had faded.
Goodtime Gal was in full stride and drew away to beat Nightingale by 0,75 lengths in a time of 112,76 secs.
Richard Fourie – riding at the top of his game
The Justin Snaith-trained Qing showed a revival of her better form, as she came out of the pack under Piere Strydom to grab third.
Bred by Dr Stan Davis, Goodtime Gal is from the third crop of Royal Air Force. She is out of the Silvano mare Tirza.
Goodtime Gal, who races in the interests of former Gr1 owner Juan van Heerden, has been a model of consistency and the stakes win was certainly just reward.
She has earned at all but one of her starts – having won 4 races with 9 places from 14 starts for stakes of R478 325.
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Gr3 Victress Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 17, R250k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.52.76
1 – GOODTIME GAL (SAF), 59.0, b f 4, Royal Air Force (SAF) – Tirza (SAF) by Silvano (GER). Owner Mr J H Van Heerden; Breeder SC Davis; trainer M Robinson; jockey R Fourie
2 – Nightingale (SAF), 59.0, b f 4, Silvano (GER) – Quickwood (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
3 – Qing (SAF), 59.0, b f 4, Dynasty (SAF) – Riva (GER) by Acatenango (GER)
Margins: 0.75, 1.00, 0.75
