Trainer Joey Ramsden dominated proceedings in the final leg of the Highlands Cape Winter Series for fillies with his beautifully-bred pair of Fresnaye and Dynasty’s Blossom fighting out the finish of the R150 000 Listed Winter Oaks.
Bernard Fayd’herbe keeps Fresnaye going to withstand a challenge from Dynasty’s Blossom (Donovan Dillon) in the Ramsden Oaks exacta (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
With pace again a no show early on, Donovan Dillon commendably took the Dynasty filly Dynasty’s Blossom out to show the way, with her more fancied stablemate Frensaye relaxed four lengths off the gallop.
Bernard Fayd’herbe set Fresnaye alight at the 400m marker but her stablemate Dynasty’s Blossom wasn’t playing dead and the duel between the two proved the highlight to round off the 2200m feature.
Fresnaye was conceding a kilo and it almost counted as the fresh and enthusiastic Dynasty’s Blossom ran out of her skin and came right back, keeping her honest all the way to the wire.
At the post just 0,30 lengths separated the duo with superior fitness counting in the odds-on Fresnaye’s favour.
Her winning time was 145,87 secs.
The pair could clash again in the Final Fling Stakes at the end of July.
The Snaith’s Talitha Borealis ran third, with her consistent stablemate Esteemal running into fourth.
Bernie returns on Fresnaye (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Fresnaye is a daughter of the late 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.
She has won 4 races with 4 places from 12 starts for stakes of R516 100.
Interestingly, Fresnaye took on the boys in the Winter Guineas, before switching to the fairer sex series to win the last two legs.
She should be a factor in the Cape Summer Season and continues to improve.
