The Elusive Fort filly Big Burn surprised even some of her staunchest supporters when she maintained her excellent form with a courageous victory under top weight to win the R200 000 Gr3 Sycamore Sprint run over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday.
The high-riding combination of Turffontein trainer Paul Peter and jockey Warren Kennedy lauded the Narrow Creek Stud-bred 3yo, who produced what is probably her finest performance to date.
Giving kilo’s to some decent older fillies, Big Burn (3-1) cruised a length off the pace before galloping powerfully into the lead at the 300m, drawing clear to beat Kissing Point (10-1) who was receiving 9 kgs, by 2 lengths in a time of 65,85 secs.
Warren Kennedy steers Big Burn ahead of Kabelo Matsunyane and Kissing Point (Pic- JC Photos)
Sean Tarry’s Full Velocity (28-10) stayed on for third, a further 1,25 lengths back.
“She’s small of stature, but big of heart,” said Kennedy, who thanked owners Arun Chadha, Ian Levitan and Warne Rippon.
Trainer Paul Peter is within touching distance of Justin Snaith at the top of the national trainer’s log, and the yard had another three winners on the day.
“I am a bit worried – Mr Arun Chadha thinks this is an easy game. He is just such a lucky owner!” laughed Peter.
Big Burn’s Groom Elias ‘Rasta’ Radebe, who apparently does a great cover of Canadian singer ‘The Weeknd’, received a mention as a key player in the Big Burn success story.
A daughter of Elusive Fort (Fort Wood), Big Burn is out of the once winning Argonaut mare, Ignition Lady.
The winner cost R300 000 at the BSA National 2yo Sale and took her career tally on Saturday to 5 wins and 4 places from 9 starts for earnings of R751 750.
She must surely have aspirations of a Gr1 strike this term – the SA Fillies Sprint run over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 4 June could be a target.
OFFICIAL RESULT:
TRAINER JOCKEY DISTANCE BETTING
1 ST 1 BIG BURN P A Peter W Kennedy —– 3/1
2 ND 9 KISSING POINT B Crawford K Matsunyane 2,00 2,00 10/1
3 RD 8 FULL VELOCITY S G Tarry K de Melo 1,25 3,25 28/10
4 TH 6 MILL QUEEN D Nieuwenhuizen C Maujean 2,25 5,50 40/1
5 TH 12 BEQUEST A G Laird N Klink 2,00 7,50 33/1
TIME OF RACE: 65.85 s
Tote Fav 1 BIG BURN P A Peter W Kennedy —– 3/1
