Trainer Dennis Drier and his Jet Master mare Gathering Fame registered a unique winning double in the R150 000 Listed Jamaica Handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday, when Aldo Domeyer piloted the Lammerskraal Stud-bred to a smooth victory.
We have said it before – it has not been a vintage season for the visiting Drier attack but back in the blinkers, Gathering Fame showed her appreciation for the Summer Course 2000m and repeated her feat of a year ago in the same race.
It is hard to believe that it has been 12 months since Gathering Fame has visited the winner’s enclosure, but with a favourable 2 draw and the headgear back on, plenty pointed to a big run from her.
Elusive Wave, one of four runners from the Brett Crawford yard, carted the field along at a decent clip, followed by Indaba and Masked Lady.
Aldo Domeyer had Gathering Fame relaxed in midfield around the turn.
In the charge for home there were plenty who looked to have a chance, but none was moving better than Gathering Fame, who coasted through on the inside and looked to have it in the bag at the 300m marker.
With Morning Light coming out of the pack to chase her home, it was left to Glen Kotzen’s Jeweller’s Joy to pick up some deserved small black type in third.
Gathering Fame clocked 126,65 secs for the 2000m and held Morning Light to 1,75 lengths.
Aldo Domeyer rode the winner
Harvard Crimson moved through and looked dangerous under replacement jockey Craig Du Plooy, but could offer little extra late and ran into fourth.
The weak 11-2 favourite Speedy Chestnut never showed and ran downfield.
It was a race of mixed emotions for the Drier yard, with the winner’s stablemate Pecan Nut trailed off in last.
Winning jockey Aldo Domeyer said that they had gone ‘a nice gallop’.
“She was always in a good position. We were cantering up to the 400m and it was a matter of just finding a gap. I can’t take much credit for the win. She did it all herself,” he said modestly.
Trainer Dennis Drier said that Gathering Fame has been ‘a nightmare’ in terms of her behaviour.
“She is a hot filly. I decided to put the blinkers back on and asked the Stipes if she could go out early. It certainly did the trick,” he said.
The Lammerskraal bred Gathering Fame races for owner Mike Rattray and is a 5yo daughter of Jet Master out of the three-time winning Western Winter mare, Googol.
She has now won 4 races with 4 places from 13 starts with stakes of R325 125.
