Deon Sampson puts his head down as Trip Tease holds off Aurum Pot’s challenge (JC Photos)
Flamboyant trainer Louis Goosen only sent out two runners on Classic Day but he enjoyed a fifty percent strike rate as Trip Tease took the R250 000 Gr3 Man’ O War Sprint with a gutsy start to finish performance. The son of Trippi looks to be over his mind issues which have overshadowed his ability thus far.
With the bigger yards dominating the major days thanks to their powerful weaponry it is pleasing to see the smaller operations picking up some of the tasty scraps along the way.
It is also heartening for owners to have ‘cheaper’ horses climbing the ladder.
Witness the thrill of Louis The King at R55 000, and at a tag of R70 000, Trip Tease has now more than quadrupled his owner’s initial investment.
Mind you, that is less the few rand that they have probably spent on behaviouralists and other therapists for the gelding with a mind of his own. But that is small change and really hardly matters now.
Louis Goosen was king of the strike rate on Classic Day
Loaded with the blindfold, Trip Tease paced it out early with Jimmi Choo and he took over at the halfway marker to lead.
With Dollar Dazzler and Aurum Pot hot on his heels, Trip Tease clung on grimly through the 300m pole and he ran all the way to the line under Deon Sampson.
With only a half length splitting the top four horses, Trip Tease hung on well to win by a head in a time of 63,05 secs at a rather generous 10 to 1.
Aurum Pot grabbed second, ahead of Alec Laird’s striking Var colt Dollar Dazzler, who may need a little bit further. Pencil this one in for the future.
Robbie Fradd and Geoff Woodruff maintained their good form with Tee Jay Ar kicking on late for fourth place. Fradd rode him a kilo over and he is another who will enjoy further.
Mike De Kock’s Moofeed disappointed after his recent Gold Rush win, while the two fillies were outgunned by the boys.
Trip Tease has now won 3 races with 3 places from just 6 starts for R316 950 in earnings.
As already observed, that looks great value for his R70 000 National Two Year Old Sale price tag with his whole career still ahead of him.
Bred by Zandvliet (the home of the legendary Pocket Power) he is a gelded son of Trippi out of the twice winning Complete Warrior mare, Girlish.
Trip Tease looks one to stick with over the sprints.
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Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint (SAf-Gr3) Turffontein, South Africa, March 29, R250k, 1100m, turf, good, 1.03.05 1– TRIP TEASE (SAF), 54.0, b c 3, Trippi (USA) – Girlish (SAF) by Complete Warrior (ANY). Owner Elegant Line Stud (Nom: Mr & Mrs V Soru); breeder Zandvliet Stud; trainer LW Goosen; jockey J Sampson 2 –Aurum Pot (SAF), 56.0, b g 3, Judpot (USA) – Gold Class (SAF) by Lecture (USA) 3 –Dollar Dazzler (SAF), 54.0, b c 3, Var (USA) – Isla Bonita (SAF) by Joshua Dancer (USA) Margins: nose, sh hd, hd
