The Baitz family’s flying mare Clear Sailing is due at Cheveley Stud in September but looks to have plenty of racing left in her yet. The daughter of Argonaut came out in a galloping mood in the Fairview Friday afternoon rain to slam a decent field with an impressive win in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes over 1200m.
Clear Sailing (Aldo Domeyer) holds off Scandal (S;manga Khumalo) to win the East Cape Breeders Stakes (Pic – Coastal Photos)
Longstanding KZN owner Cecil Baitz and his Aussie based Veterinarian son Gary own the good mare in partnership after purchasing her out of the Dennis Drier yard.
Her original owners, Robyn and Robin Muir, had decided to put her on the market as a three-time winner.
The Muir’s motivation was that her sire Argonaut was not firing and Clear Sailing had also later developed a breathing issue. That was on top of the fact that she had cracked a pelvis as a weanling.
And it has been a great move for the Baitz’ with Clear Sailing having boosted her paddock value with two good stakes wins. Helped along by Dr Gary Baitz suggestion to her then new trainer Mike Miller to try the use of a spoon bit, which is used in Australia to keep the tongue down.
Cecil Baitz was thrilled when we chatted to him after the race.
Alan Greeff trained the winner
“I just spoke to Gavin in London and he is over the moon. It was a top-class win and she is due down at Cheveley in a few months. It is up to trainer Alan Greeff to see how she pulls up and whether she should have another run or two,” he said, adding that he was not able to confirm what stallion his mare would go to.
Aldo Domeyer rode a cracking race in Clear Sailing’s second start in the Eastern Cape, settling his mount some six lengths off the gallop before producing her at the 300m marker.
Sweeping into the lead, Clear Sailing looked to be going on easily before Corne Spies longshot Scandal was unleashed by replacement rider S’manga Khumalo.
Clear Sailing was going too well though and she held the late challenger to win by 0,25 lengths in a time of 73,21 secs.
The weak 9-2 favourite Bella Spumante finished out of the money.
Clear Sailing had been covered by Ato last season, but lost the foal.
Bred by Geoff Armitage, Clear Sailing is by Western Winter stallion Argonaut, out of the five-time winning daughter of Goldkeeper, Clear Up.
Clear Sailing was originally purchased for R350 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
She has won 5 races with 8 places from 19 starts for stakes of R453 600.
She will pay to follow – both on the track for another possible run or two, and in the paddocks.
