Persian Rug has been a frustrating filly for her connections and punters. The obviously talented daughter of Ideal World once had everybody thinking that she was looking for ground to show her best. But dropped back to a mile at Turffontein on Saturday, she registered her first win in over a year.
Persian Rug (Weichong Marwing) holds off Fly Phillippa (Muzi Yeni) and Pennington Sands (Craig Zackey) in an exciting tussle (Pic – JC Photos)
The Mauritzfontein bred filly won her first two starts and then came out with a showy Gr1 third in the Thekwini Stakes at her next race.
While the future supposedly looked bright for trainer Mike de Kock and his owners Natie Kotzen (his KZN assistant) and Steven Jell (a former assistant), it was not to be and that was it for Persian Rug – until the R150 000 Listed Syringa Handicap on Saturday.
Weichong Marwing – strong rider
Facing a field of 12 opponents on the Turffontein inner track mile, Persian Rug was relaxed a few lengths off pacemaker Shepard One by Weichong Marwing, before pouncing at the 300m.
Just as she looked to go away from them, Marwing had to ride hard as Fly Phillippa, in receipt of a handy 5kgs, came to make a race of it.
The two duelled for a few meters before Persian Rug asserted her authority to win by 0,25 lengths in a time of 98,67 secs and register her first stakes victory.
The game Pennington Sands came on late for third.
It is anybody’s guess where Persian Rug will be headed from here but hopefully the strong Marwing handling and the confidence of winning again will restore her enthusiasm.
Persian Rug has won 3 races with 2 places from 11 starts for stakes of R290 625.
She was bred by Mauritzfontein and is by the exciting Ideal World out of the twice winning Fort Wood mare, Queen Of Persia.
That makes her a half-sister to Mike Azzie’s speedy Isphan (Tiger Ridge).
