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.
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.
