Joey Ramsden’s juvenile feature joy at Kenilworth on Sunday was shortlived as the beautiful previously unbeaten Miranda Frost followed much the same path as Snaith’s Sergeant Hardy a half hour earlier. The daughter of Western Winter finished a modest fourth as the diminutive The Merry Widow charged in to win the R125 000 Listed Perfect Promise Sprint.
The Merry Widow (Bernard Fayd’herbe) holds Live Life (Grant van Niekerk) for a third straight win (Pic – Wayne Marks)
Justin Snaith and his arch adversary Joey Ramsden added some much needed needle to the rather thin in numbers Kenilworth Sunday double feature and the two races mirrored each other, with the tally being a 1-1 draw.
The same applied to each yard’s favourite in the respective races!
After Joey had cleaned up in the Somerset 1200, it was Snaith’s chance to celebrate with recent East Cape Nursery winner The Merry Widow easily accounting for her six rivals.
Relaxed a few lengths off the gallop early, Bernard Fayd’herbe, whose tall frame makes the daughter of Captain Al look even shorter than her 15ha, set her alight at the 250m and she sailed past Miranda Frost.
Starting at 5-1, The Merry Widow went on too strongly and held recent maiden winner Live Life to a half length in a time of 71,86 secs.
Felicity Flyer came on late to deny the 8-10 Miranda Frost third cheque.
Jono Snaith
Winning owner Gaynor Rupert was on course to lead her smart unbeaten filly in. She was naturally pleased with the second stakes win and thanked the Snaiths for having The Merry Widow so magnificently turned out.
Assistant Jono Snaith confirmed that The Merry Widow would be staying home for the winter.
The Merry Widow is now unbeaten in three starts – with two stakes victories to her credit – and took her earnings to R212 500.
Bred by Boland Stud, she is by Captain Al out of the one-time winning Jallad mare, Miss Kiri.
The Merry Widow went through the 2015 National Yearling Sale ring unsold with a highest bid of R300 000.
A deal was concluded immediately after with Drakenstein Stud and the filly thus also qualified for the R77 500 BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus Series.
