Ridgemont Highlands supremo Wayne Kieswetter was on course at Durbanville on Saturday with his right-hand man Craig Carey to lead in the very impressive Highlands bred Jackson filly Water Spirit, who was an impressive winner of her second start.
Anton Marcus gears the impressive Water Spirit down to win easily (Pic – compliments of Highlands /Bay Media)
With a lively crowd enjoying the festivities at a sun-drenched Durbanville, Ridgemont Highlands jockey Anton Marcus was in the Mother City for just three rides. And the multiple champion rider made his big one count with a typically confident ride from the front on the athletic Jackson daughter, Water Spirit, who is trained by Brett Crawford.
She had arrived on the scene a moment too late on her Kenilworth 1200m debut in August, but over the extra 400m on Saturday, there was no stopping her as she strode clear to beat Bella Summer by 1,25 lengths in a time of 100,39 secs. Marcus merely pointed her in the right direction in the final 200m.
A R2 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, the smart Jackson first-crop winner is out of the Western Winter mare, Undine, who won twice.
Brett Crawford, Craig Carey and Wayne Kieswetter at the lead in (Pic – compliments of Highlands/Bay Media)
A son of four times Equus Outstanding Stallion Dynasty, Jackson won or placed in 12 of his 17 races and banked close on R2,4 million in stakes. He stands this season for a fee of R15 000.
His trio of Gr1 victories included the Investec Cape Derby, Daily News 2000 and Champions Cup, with Jackson downing dual Horse Of The Year Variety Club in the Derby, subsequent Champion First Crop sire Pomodoro in the Daily News, and Cape Derby hero Bravura in the Champions Cup.
A half or full-brother to the graded stakes winners Heartland and Jade Bay, Jackson is out of the winning Moonlit Prairie, whose sire Cozzene is broodmare sire of outstanding sire/broodmare sire Pivotal (whose 28 individual Gr1 winners include 2018 Gr1 Qatar Sussex Stakes winner Lightning Spear).
Post race celebration (Pic – compliments of Highlands/Bay Media)
He is from the same family as breed shaping US champion sire Smart Strike and successful stallions Sky Classic, Sail From Seattle and Strike Smartly.
Pencil Water Spirit in for the Cape Summer Of Champions!
