A weather enforced late change of surface failed to stop the visiting tidal wave at Fairview on Friday as Milnerton trainer Candice Bass-Robinson banked her second consecutive Eastern Cape feature victory with the Argonaut filly Star Fighter dethroning local champion Madame Speaker with a dazzling late run.
The R150 000 Listed Breeders Guineas looked a gift for local star and odds-on favourite Madame Speaker at level weights – and even when the race was switched to the all-weather, she was always going to be hard to beat.
An elated Lyle Hewitson points the way home as Star Fighter eclipses odds-on Madame Speaker (Greg Cheyne) in the feature (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
But after Klever Kathy showed the way ahead of Bushiri, Count Dubucks and Madame Speaker, for much of the journey, it was Lyle Hewitson who produced the magic as Star Fighter unleashed a supreme effort down the centre of the track at her first start in the Eastern Cape.
She cut the talented Madame Speaker down to win going away by 1,50 lengths in a time of 98.54 secs.
The ever game Klever Kathy plugged on for third, with the Kotzen raider Be Yourself not disgraced in fourth.
A pretty chestnut daughter of Equus champion 2yo of 2007 Argonaut (Western Winter), the winner was bred by Marco Diaz’ Dream World Investments and is out of the twice winning Kahal mare, Toffee Nose – who produced the six-time winner Titus (Muhtafal), who also raced under the Bass flag.
Star Fighter registered her first stakes success and has won 3 races with 3 places from 7 starts, and took her stakes earnings to R226 700.
Candice confirmed that the 3yo will not travel to Durban but, as an improving sort, could be aimed at the lucrative Cape Winter Series at home.
