Richard Fourie gives Irish Myth a confident ride to win the Listed E Cape Paddock Stakes (Coastal Photos)
Justin Snaith’s well-bred daughter of Dynasty,Irish Myth, has come into her own as a late 3yo. Her second stakes victory on the trot in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes at Fairview on Friday spoke volumes of her character and ability and she looks to have more to come as a 4yo.
The recent Listed Winter Oaks winner showed no side effects of a tough race at Kenilworth at the end of June and a long road trip up the Garden Route.
And punters showed how clever they are by installing her an 11 to 10 favourite as she faced some local hard-knockers over a mile – a trip one is inclined to think would be some way short of her optimum.
But after a brief sweat at around the 300m marker where she was shielded behind a wall of horses with absolutely nowehere to go, Richard Fourie casually(well it looked like that anyway!) switched her out and pushed her forward as she powered home to an emphatic victory.
The field was stretched by the Rattray owned Western Winter mare Travel Up Front who grabbed three lengths on Diamond Emblem and Dinesesn.
With the vastly improved Dinesen going great guns (how she has upped her game since leaving the Cape) at the 400m and Bursary putting in a challenge, Irish Myth supporters looked to be in for a crying session.
But it was not to be as Fourie brought her around the pack and she ran on strongly to win by a half length in a time of 100,32 secs.
Dinesen may have been flattered by the losing margin but she should not be long in winning again, while the blinkered Silvan Spirit stayed on well for third over a distance short of her best.
The 35 to 1 Bursary ran fourth 1,50 lengths behind the winner, and can win soon in weaker company.
A Tawny Syndicate-bred daughter of Dynasty, Irish Myth was registering her fourth win from 12 starts with 2 places. She has earned R283 800.
She is out of the four-time winning Flaming Rock mare, Clock The Rock, and cost R500 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
She is a sought after broodmare in the making as a full sister to the very well performed Irish Flame, who hails from the successful ‘Corn’ family.
He was voted Horse of the Year at 3, Champion 3yo Colt and Champion Stayer at 3 in 2010.
Irish Flame won from 1600m to 2450m and counted the Gr1 SA Derby, Gr1 Daily News, Gr2 KZN Derby amongst his major wins and was also placed in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, the Gr1 SA Classic and the Gr2 Al Rashidaya in Dubai.
Irish Flame is standing his first season (fee R10 000 ) at Bush Hill Stud in KZN under the management of the Tawny Syndicate.
