A winner of four of her five starts since relocating to the Highveld, Suzette Viljoen’s super nippy Golden Sickle registered the hat-trick when she went from gun to tape to win the R150 000 TAB Sophomore 1000 at Turffontein on Saturday.
The 1000m non black-type feature was dominated by the recent Listed National Colour Stakes winner who was always in command under Calvin Habib.
Calvin Habib has Golden Sickle in control (Pic – JC Photos)
Registering a double for the Tony Peter-Suzette Viljoen combination, Golden Sickle (2-1) went on relentlessly to beat the favourite Troppo Veloce (9-10) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 57,22 secs.
The runner-up had shoe issues at the start, which would not have done her prospects any good.
The Hollywood Syndicate’s Ziyasha (10-1) was thereabouts but faded late to be beaten 3,25 lengths further back.
A R700 000 Cape Yearling Sale purchase, the beautifully bred winner is a Varsfontein Stud produced daughter of champion Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the accomplished six-time winner Victorian Secret (Captain Al).
Now a winner of 5 races with 5 places from 11 starts, Golden Sickle took her stakes earnings to R557 538.
Enjoy the replay:
