A 5yo entire and winless since an impressive victory in the first leg of the 2020 SA Triple Crown, the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas, Sean Tarry’s Ikigai gave the high-riding Hollywood Syndicate a first stakes winner for the former multiple SA Champion trainer when winning the R100 000 Listed Christmas Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Boxing Day.
![](https://www.sportingpost.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IKIGAI-1-1024x683.jpg)
Ikigai comes home powerfully under Gavin Lerena to beat Tristful (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Easy to back at 8-1, Ikigai finished powerfully to give Gavin Lerena and Sean Tarry the first leg of a Boxing Day feature double when he stormed clear to beat Tony Rivalland longshot Tristful (16-1) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 97,31 secs.
The Gauteng raider and 2-1 tote favourite Sound Of Summer was a further 0,40 lengths back in third, with the 33-1 Tread Swiftly a further half length back in fourth.
Watch the replay here:
Ikigai is from the first crop of the exciting Maine Chance stallion Vercingetorix (Silvano) and South Africa’s Champion Sire elect for 2021-2022 other flagbearers this season include Chansonette (Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas), Seeking The Stars (Gr2 WSB Club Prive Green Point Stakes, Gr3 #ThisIsRacing Matchem Stakes), Alesian Chief (Gr3 World Sports Betting Merchants) and Pomp And Power (Gr2 Concorde Cup).
Sunday’s winner is out of the one-time winning Al Mufti mare, Al Shiba. Ikigai is thus bred on a similar cross to the Silvano sired Gr1 winners Al Sahem, Bold Silvano, and Kings Gambit.
Ikigai has won 5 races with 5 places from 20 starts for stakes of R986 875.