Gauteng trainer Candice Dawson produced the first surprise of World Sports Betting Cape Town Met day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when the 100-1 Maine Chance bred Little Ballerina produced the goods under Gareth Wright to win the R1 250 000 CRS Cape Slipper.
Gareth Wright sends Little Ballerina to the lead inside the distance to beat Talk To The Master under Richard Fourie by three quarters of a length (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
With an unspectacular and unfancied debut effort under the belt on Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas day last month, there wasn’t much to suggest that the daughter of Vercingetorix would be vying for top honours.
But Gareth Wright had other ideas and he sent Little Ballerina to the lead inside the distance, and despite a bit of rein panic by her rider late, the smart filly won the 1200m contest restricted to eligible graduates of the 2023 CRS Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
Little Ballerina went on strongly in a time of 72,83 secs to beat Vaughan Marshall’s Talk To The Master by three quarters of a length.
The 18-10 favourite Handsome Prince was beaten a further length into third.
Trainer Candice Dawson, who also banked the R50 000 RaceCape Cape Raiders incentive cheque, said that she felt that the race had come a bit early, but that a great ride and a gutsy effort had produced the welcome surprise.
A R300 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy, the winner now takes her stakes bank to R781 250 with her first win from 2 starts.
Raced by Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs) & Larry Nestadt, the winner was bred by Maine Chance Farms, the Doyle family, and Silver Ripples (Pty) Ltd.
Little Ballerina is by Maine Chance superstar Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Ireland placed Fastnet Rock mare, Little Fastnet.
The Cape Slipper stake for 2025 has been increased to R1,5 million.
Enjoy the replay!
