Trainer Joey Ramsden will look back on his 2018 Cape Guineas day with some mixed feelings – and a measure of satisfaction.
A thrilling listed win, a respectable second in the Cape Guineas – and then the cherry on the top, courtesy of a booming late run from the Western Winter filly, Fresnaye, to win the R250 000 Gr3 Victress Stakes.
Bernard Fayd’herbe has Fresnaye in full flight (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
One of the top protagonists of his trade, Ramsden has shown that he means business this term with feature successes at home and away and his ‘Boer maak ‘n plan’ mentality has found him on 17 winners for the season to date on stock of vastly lesser quantum than he traded with a year ago.
The Milnerton resident has a knack of getting his charges ready for the big dates and he showed his skills when producing the 4yo Fresnaye in fighting trim 16 weeks after her last run – a third place in a stakes feature at Fairview.
Bernard Fayd’herbe had the Drakenstein owned and bred filly settled some way off the pace set by another blue flagged galloper in Miss Katalin, who led Red Ginger and Dynasty’s Blossom.
Storming out of the pack inside the 300m, Fresnaye went on powerfully to beat another smart rested sort in Miyabi Gold who ran on well.
The winning margin was 1,50 lengths and the official time was 112,61 secs.
The leader Miss Katalin stayed on for third a head away.
Drakenstein Stud’s Kevin Sommerville leads Fresnaye in (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Fresnaye is a Drakenstein bred daughter of Western Winter (Gone West) out of the beautifully bred Gulf Breeze (Dubai Destination) – the latter is a half-sister to sires Medaaly and Charnwood Forest – their dam being a full sister to Fort Wood.
She has won 5 races with 6 places from 15 starts for stakes of R719 350.
_________
Gr3 Victress Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 15, R250k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.52.61
1 – FRESNAYE (SAF), 58.5, b f 4, Western Winter (USA) – Gulf Breeze (GB) by Dubai Destination (USA). Owner Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert); Breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer J Ramsden; jockey B Fayd’herbe
2 – Miyabi Gold (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Silvano (GER) – Mkushi Gold (SAF) by Western Winter (USA)
3 – Miss Katalin (SAF), 58.0, b f 4, Trippi (USA) – Little Miss Magic (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF)
Margins: 1.50, 0.20, 1.75
