Good Golly! Silver Holly (Sean Cormack) wins easily (Equine Edge)
There are 25 Silvano progeny on the CPYS this week and one man who will have both his hands in the air to take home as many as he can, is trainer Joey Ramsden. He turned out the smart Ascot Stud bred Silver Holly in fighting trim to win the R150 000 Listed Sun Classique Handicap run over 2400m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Ramsden was full of praise for the Lomitas stallion when paying tribute to a smart performance by Silver Holly, who showed serious stamina ability with her first bash at 2400m. She outstayed the Mike De Kock trained Ilha Bela and beat her fair and square.
“Silvano is the complete stallion and I have loved his progeny from day one, “ said an excited Joey as he also thanked Ingrid and Markus Jooste, who have become his biggest patrons over the past few years.
He was also quick to point out that the choice of the filly had nothing to with her lovely name. Holly is Joey’s eldest daughter’s name.
Jockey Sean Cormack can also do little wrong at the moment and he rode another cracking race to sit confidently way off the pace. If ever Cormack was dreaming of a Gr1 double on Met Day, 2014 must surely be his year?
He has really never ridden with more composure.
Cormack had Silver Holly in stone last position with Ilha Bela in front of her as Showdown and Mohave Princess showed the way.
Our longshot fancy Elegantes owned third place with Star Jet and Dynasty’s Pride following her. For The Count hugged the rail further back.
Into the home run, Showdown continued to lead Mohave Princess as Silver Holly stormed through down the inside from way back as Ilha Bela was switched out by Shea for her bid.
But Silver Holly was loving every inch of the increased test and she ran away from her field down the inside to beat Ilha Bela by 2,25 lengths in a time of 151,80 secs.
Ilha Bela took forever to pick up her feet and had no chance with the winner. She stays in Cape Town and will run in the Gr2 J&B Jet Stayers next Saturday. She has drawn at 17 and will need to improve on this showing.
The always prominent Showdown stayed on well for third, ahead of Dubai Gina, who only woke up in the final 100m.
Winning jockey Sean Cormack said afterwards that Silver Holly was settled and very nice and relaxed at the back as they had gone quite quickly early in the race.
“She won like a Gr1 filly,” he said enthusiastically. Jooste Racing Manager Derek Brugman threw some water on Cormack’s fire by toning down the Gr1 references, in an obvious bid to thwart the attentions of the handicapping hawks.
Bred by Ascot Stud from Silvano out of the two time winning Fort Wood mare, Holly Wood, Silver Holly cost R420 000 on the National Yearling Sale.
She has now won 4 from 14 with 2 places and amassed stakes of R220 950.
She looks most unlikely to stop here and should add to her future paddock value with some bold black type in the not too distant future.
Just as the astute Cormack observed.
