Trainer Brett Crawford celebrated a memorable association of days gone by with the champion racemare Laisserfaire, when he saddled the top two home in the Kenilworth feature named in her honour.
It was a good day for the Phillipi trainer who celebrated a winning treble on the afternoon.
Corne Orffer has Beach Goddess in flight mode as Our Destiny (Donovan Dillon) hangs on gamely for third (Pic – Wayne Marks)
Crawford was private trainer to the powerful Sabine Plattner string when he had the champion Laisserfaire under his charge, and while this lot have some way to go to get anywhere near the star sprinter’s level, the race nevertheless provided an enjoyable spectacle.
The R150 000 Listed Laisserfaire Stakes was moved from the 2015 end December programme slot and attracted a field of thirteen with plenty of depth in the ranks – the Justin Snaith trained Captain Al flyer Twinkle Toes going off at 5-2, and aiming for a hat-trick off her handy 52kgs.
The smart Trippi 3yo Live Life burst through the stalls and caused something of a commotion at the start with seven of the runners being unloaded – those remaining in the five-strong ‘good girl’ group including the eventual top two of the 5yo mare Beach Goddess and her year younger stablemate, Chevauchee.
The pace was on from the 1100m jump, with the speedy Varumba carting the inside group along at a shunt, with Live Life, Jo’s Bond and Dixie Express prominent in the outside group.
Corne Orffer – knows Beach Goddess well and rode a confident race
Crawford stable rider Corne Offer knows Beach Goddess well and he allowed her to come forward just behind the pace at the 600m, as Our Destiny went for broke a length ahead.
The super consistent Beach Goddess stalked the leaders and always looked too strong as she grabbed the game Our Destiny at the 100m and went on smartly to win convincingly by 0,75 lengths in a time of 65,52 secs.
The Australian-bred Chevauchee was returning from a 20 week break and showed genuine class when making up lengths over a distance short of her best to bank second cheque. She looks to have a nice season ahead of her.
The Glen Kotzen-trained Our Destiny has always looked above average, and she withstood the late challenge down the outside of Champery, to hold third.
The favourite Twinkle Toes finished 3,25 lengths back in midfield.
The SMG Cape Town and Vasco Taverna sponsored Corne Orffer confirmed that they had ‘gone quick’ early.
“Beach Goddess started picking it up at the 800m and I just left her in the open at the 600m and rode her with the hands. There was a stage I thought we may have gone a touch early, but she is classy and ran all the way to the line,” he said.
Brett Crawford – Laisserfaire exacta
Trainer Brett Crawford enjoyed a great day at the office. He said that Beach Goddess had ‘a heart as big as herself’.
“Things didn’t really go for her in the Diana Stakes at Durbanville. The course was running quickly and she just never got into it. But she is very effective down this track and we will keep her to the fillies sprints for the time being,” said Crawford.
Raced – and technically bred by Ian Longmore – Beach Goddess is from the second crop of former Equus Champion Sprinter Kildonan, who stands at Yellow Star Stud after commencing his career at Wilgerbosdrift.
The winner, bred by Klawervlei Stud, is out of the one-time winning Giant’s Causeway mare, Rock Goddess.
A dual stakes winner, Beach Goddess took her stakes tally to R412 175 with her 4 wins and 5 places from 10 starts.
She is likely to line up next in the Sceptre Stakes in December.
The afternoon was characterised by some competitive racing.
The return of two big guns in KRA Guineas winner Black Arthur and the unbeaten Hack Green attracted plenty of attention.
Sadly both needed their respective runs and neither showed – much to the disappointment of punters. They could repay the debt next time!
Richard Fourie rode a great double, while two largely unheralded riders picked up a win apiece – Ossie Noach and Sihle Cele showing they can deliver given the chance – albeit on longshots.
