Fresh off a WSB Cape Town Met day double that included a glorious Grade 1 victory on Gimme A Prince, national log-leader Craig Zackey booted home a fourth Turffontein Sunday winner for Mike de Kock when Littlemarysunshine finished best to win the R225 000 4Racing Listed Spook Express Stakes.
Winless in over 16 months, Littlemarysunshine (25-2), a 5yo daughter of Silvano (Lomitas) was trying the 2400m for the first time and finally banked some paddock-value boosting black type when she ran on powerfully under a well-judged Craig Zackey ride to beat fellow Varsfontein Stud product My Soul Mate (3-1) by 2,30 lengths in a time of 153,87 secs for the 2400m.
Littlemarysunshine charges home under Craig Zackey to beat My Soul Mate (Raymond Danielson) in the first of the Turffontein Sunday feature double (Pic – JC Photos)
The tote favourite United Council (13-10) had a few traffic issues late and never troubled the top two, running a further 1,20 lengths back in third.
Trainer Mike de Kock conceded that he had originally taking the winner out of the race, but put her back in the race when he saw how the field cut up. Only 7 started.
“She ran a week ago, was fit and I told Craig (Zackey) to ride her for luck. This was a good ending,” added De Kock, who said it was ironic that Johnny Geroudis was interviewing him after a feature named in honour of champion Spook Express.
“Johnny G was the only jockey to ever get beaten on Spook Express,” he laughed.
Raced by leading owners ASSM Racing Syndicate, the winner was a R225 000 National Yearling Sale buy and was bred by Varsfontein. A daughter of late multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the five-time winning Judpot mare, Little Genie.
Littlemarysunshine is a winner of 4 races with 13 places from 32 starts and stakes of R539 250.
