A brave ride by Ridgemont Highlands-sponsored Greg Cheyne was the highlight of the R150 000 Listed Ladies Mile at Kenilworth on Saturday when the Silvano filly Platinum Class showed again that she loves the mile as she produced a sustained finish to win going away.
Greg Cheyne has Platinum Class in charge as Shamrock Wind (Corne Orffer) chases hard (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Greg Cheyne deserved all the credit for the victory on the Drakenstein owned 7-2 favourite.
Coming down the home straight, the gaps were not wide open and it took some courage by horse and rider to squeeze through a late gap on the rail that opened the door to a smart win.
Once into the clear, Platinum Class won full of running to score by a length in a time of 102,21 secs.
Shamrock Wind was always thereabouts and stayed on nicely for second, 0,30 lengths ahead of a flying Pearl Jam.
The winner’s stablemate Dynamic Diana moved up menacingly in the straight but faded late to run fourth.
Jonathan Snaith enjoys the moment (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
A R210 000 National Yearling Sale buy, the winner, who races for Drakenstein Stud, was bred by Mauritzfontein and Wilgerbosdrift and is a daughter of Silvano (Lomitas) out of the four-time winner Express Queen (Jet Master).
Platinum Class has won 6 races with 7 places from 18 starts for stakes of R505 750.
Stipes Report excerpt:
Jockey S Khumalo (STILL I RISE (AUS)) reported that this filly was making an abnormal respiratory noise and he felt something amiss with the filly in running. STILL I RISE (AUS) was eased out of the race in the straight. The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the filly on her return to the unsaddling enclosure and submit a report.
LIBRA (R Khathi) was momentarily awkwardly placed on the heels DYNAMIC DIANA (R Fourie), which rolled in slightly approaching the 100m.
