SA champion trainer Sean Tarry made a flying start to the Gauteng Easter weekend feature programme when he saddled the first two home in the R150 000 Listed Oaks Trial. The winner Inaninstant rounded off her post-maiden hat-trick with a convincing first stakes victory.
Inaninstant (JP Van der Merwe) gets the better of stablemate Intergalactic to win the Oaks Trial (Pic – JC Photos)
The Tarry armoury across the age and sex spectrum has no end and the yard will be looking forward to the R1 million Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks to be run on Champions Day, 2 April – particularly after this forward showing by two upwardly mobile young fillies.
Both were trying the 2000m for the first time and despite stable first-choice rider S’manga Khumalo riding the better drawn stablemate Intergalactic, it was Inaninstant who attracted the support and started a 17-10 favourite in the thirteen strong field.
The race was uneventful with Callan Murray taking Song Of Happiness out to lead from her wide draw and she loped along at a comfortable gallop out front from Samarra and Bajan Fantasy, with Inaninstant tucked away in fourth.
Into the straight Song Of Happiness started to shorten her stride as JP van der Merwe, riding with great confidence, took the initiative and grabbed a length at the 400m.
With Intergalactic in pursuit, Inaninstant continued to gallop strongly and held her advantage to the line – the official margin of 0,30 lengths in a time of 124,21 secs.
JP van der Merwe – riding so well
Intergalactic was not disgraced and may be the better bet over the extra 450m of the Oaks.
Estimation ran on strongly for third, 2,70 lengths in front of American Story.
Inaninstant was bred by Maine Chance Farms and is a daughter of champion sire Silvano out of the five-time winning Northern Guest mare, Imperial Guest – who was fast and won only at 1000m.
She has now won 3 of her 5 starts with 2 places and took her stakes earned to R227 750.
