With over fifty horses running at Kenilworth this weekend, Justin Snaith still found some time to travel the 2000km round trip on Wednesday to Fairview to grab the first feature trophy of 2019.
With three runners on the day, the Snaith Racing Team may have expected more than a winner – but they will leave the Eastern Cape with mission accomplished thanks to a facile first stakes success for the Silvano filly, Platinum Class, who gave Richard Fourie an armchair ride.
Platinum Class comes home lonely to win the feature (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
The local star Madame Speaker was having her first outing in mixed age company and carried bottomweight in the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Bracelet. She also started a narrow tote favourite in the field of nine.
But it was no race.
Valentine’s Girl led Cloud Atlas and Maverick Girl, with Madame Speaker relaxed in fourth for much of the journey. The well fancied Platinum Class was dropped out to last by Richard Fourie.
Into the final 300m Madame Speaker moved up dangerously but was no match for the flying Platinum Class who strode up on the outside to win going away by 2 lengths in a time of 96,59 secs.
Just My Style came on late for third, a further 1,25 lengths adrift, with former Kimberley campaigner Sea Bean a well beaten fourth.
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 the super sire Silvano (Lomitas) out of the four-time winner Express Queen (Jet Master) – who also produced last season’s Mauritius Champion Stayer, Our Emperor (Dynasty).
Platinum Class has won 5 races with 5 places from 15 starts for stakes of R372 000.
