Smooth Sailing! Garibondy wins well under Anthony Delpech
Scottsville hosted a low key meeting on Sunday where punters enjoyed some mixed fortunes. Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty redeemed himself in the R92 000 Natal Carbineers 159th Anniversary Open FM 88 Handicap with the smart Var filly Garibondy, after his even money Classe Mondiale had finished a modest third in the opener.
Punters were no doubt hoping to get the day off to a good start in the 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate for filles where Lafferty’s Seventh Rock filly was expected to improve on her promising debut fourth.
It was suggested that there would have to be a ‘stakes horse’ in the six strong field to beat Classe Mondiale.
That assertion remains to be seen and after the Lafferty filly never really got into things, it was left to Duncan Howells’ Spanish Cat to open her account on debut under Kevin Shea on, and beat September Morn.
Classe Mondiale was a well beaten 3,50 lengths third.
Duncan Howells appears rather excited by the prospects of Spanish Cat who received plenty of betting support.
The joint Summerhill and Digteby Stud bred daughter pf Black Minnaloushe was an R80 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2 buy and won easily, despite running quite green.
Howells and Shea scored a double in the sixth race with the Lundy’s Liability gelding Hunting Horn running on strongly to win an MR 72 Handicap.
It was a smart win after a nine week break and a return trip from the Cape where he failed to fire.
Lafferty was on the mark in the eighth race, the R92 000 Natal Carbineers 159th Anniversary Open FM 88 Handicap, when the Varsfontein Stud bred Var 3yo flyer, Garibondy, bounced back from laser treatment and an eleven week break to register her fifth win from 8 starts.
The R340 000 National Yearling Sale purchase chalked up R273 800 in career earnings and impressed in the hands of Anthony Delpech as she accelerated through on the outside to win by 1,7 5 lengths in a time of 57, 13 secs.
The withdrawal at the start of Dennis Bosch’s Cherry Tripper would have made Garibondy’s task all the easier, but she nevertheless disposed of some good sorts and is a very promising young sprinter..
Cotswold showed toe and stayed on for second, while Pat Lunn’s Preamble ran on powerfully late under Callan Murray for third to pip the 17 to 10 favourite Swell Party, who had nothing to offer late in the race.
Trainer Craig Eudey would have breathed a sigh of relief after the second race of the day, an MR 90 Handicap, where his Kahal gelding Flyfirstclass chalked up his first win in over a year when disposing of six opponents.
The Summerhill Stud bred Flyfirstclass has now won 3 races from 11 starts with 2 places and has been fancied on many occasions.
Anton Marcus rode him for Keith Young and he will now hopefully go on with the potential that he showed early in his career.
