SA champion apprentice Craig Zackey looked in a spot of trouble when he drew his whip at the 250m marker on the Judpot speedster Little Genie. But the gutsy 4yo dug deep to register her second stakes success and a fifth straight win on the trot.
Little Genie holds on to beat Carry On Alice and Seventh Symphony (Pic: JC Photos)
The R150 000 Listed Gardenia Stakes represented Little Genie’s biggest career test to date. But Dominic Zaki’s ball of fire passed the exam with flying colours – in the process giving the multiple Gr1 winning Carry On Alice a solid, albeit narrow beating.
The two topped the boards, with Carry On Alice being backed into the red to start at 7-10, after her 17 week break following her Gr1 Mercury Sprint second to champion Captain Of All.
This was a particularly good effort from Little Genie, and more so that she led the charge from the break.
Young Craig Zackey knows his charge well and he kept her beautifully balanced as he gave her a reminder at the 250m.
Carry On Alice was edging forward and given every chance by Anthony Delpech down the inside – but she just could not get to the speedy Little Genie when asked, and went down a well beaten head. She may have just needed the run.
Seventh Symphony ran a cracker to grab third at 20-1, 2,30 lengths behind the winner.
Craig Zackey – has formed a winning partnership with Little Genie
Little Genie clocked a snappy 56,56 secs for the 1000m.
The R130 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2 purchase was bred by Danika Stud.
She is a daughter of Judpot out of the six-time winning Rambo Dancer mare, Cast A Spell – who won right up to 1800m!
She has now won 5 races (including the Listed Banyana Handicap on the Vaal sand) from her 7 starts with 1 place – she shed her maiden over 1200m, and it will be interesting to see how competitive she is at this level over 200m further. It is notable that the astute Mr Zaki tried her over a mile at her second outing. Was she showing him something?
Little Genie took her stakes earnings to R369 125.
A rematch down the line between the top two looks a showdown to look forward to.
