Raymond ‘Stingray’ Danielson clearly gets a tune out of the very smart Trippi filly October Morn, and after the pair won the Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes during the Cape summer, they stepped up in style to win the R1 million Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, brought to you by The Witness, at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
Celebrating his 12th Grade 1 winner, the Winning Form-sponsored Danielson spent the sunny afternoon, after his first race ride, watching the traffic jams up the home straight, and went into the 1200m contest resolving to ensure he would get a clear run.
Raymond Danielson gets low to get October Morn home ahead of Mrs Browning (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
After drama at the start, with Rachel Venniker taking a tumble after Asiye Phambili pecked coming out of the gates, and thankfully walking away without injury, Baltic Secret, Kwinta’s Light and Mrs Browning led the early charge.
Danielson had October Morn bowling along near the rear down the inside.
The gaps opened and with the high-riding Richard Fourie launching Mrs Browning down the centre with a big effort, Danielson swirled his crop and set his sights on the leader.
In a matter of strides October Morn (15-2) was in full flight and she grabbed Mrs Browning (33-10) short of the post to beat the Tarry star by 0,15 lengths in a time of 68,13 secs.
With the riderless Asiye Phambili in the mix, the runner-up’s stablemate Winter Greeting (14-1) finished a further 3,30 lengths back in third.
Time Fo Orchids (14-1) bookended the quartet. The winner’s stablemate and tote favourite Winter Cloud (7-2) ran sixth , after suffering interference.
After having celebrated Val De Ra’s victory in the 2011 renewal, Pippa Mickleburgh was on course representing absent owner and co-breeder, David Abery.
October Morn became only the third 3yo in the past decade to win the SA Fillies Sprint after Celtic Sea (2019) and Carry On Alice (2015).
By Trippi (End Sweep) the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained October Morn was bred by Avontuur and David Abery and is out of the Gr1 producing Var mare, the stalwart Miss October.
Now a winner of 5 races with 7 places from 12 starts, October Morn took her stakes bank to R1 347 513.
