The Sean Tarry-Lyle Hewitson partnership was in devastating form at Turffontein on Saturday. The duo enjoyed three victories on the afternoon – including a feature double. Tarry saddled a total of four winners.
A half hour after a runaway victory by stablemate Seeham in the Listed Jacaranda Handicap, the speedy Tropic Sun overcame the adrenaline drainer of a false start, to register her first stakes success in the R125 000 Gr3 Sycamore Sprint (1160m).
Tropic Sun breaks the stakes ice with a smart performance under Lyle Hewitson (Pic – JC Photos)
The daughter of Bosworth’s clearly underutilised Jet Master stallion Skitt Skizzle (18-10)– who won thrice in the same Chris van Niekerk red and blue – paced it down the outside, matching strides with market rival Winter Smoke (7-2).
Into the final 200m, Tropic Sun was clearly going better than her opposition and stayed on really well to win by two lengths in a time of 66,58 secs.
Running over a trip marginally short of her best, Rio’s Winter (15-2) ran a cracker, navigating her way from some distance off the pace. The daughter of Oratorio weaved through under Gavin Lerena to snatch the runner-up cheque away from Winter Smoke, who stopped late a further two lengths back in third.
Lyle Hewitson said that a few months ago Tropic Sun was quite one dimensional with her tearaway style.
“But she has matured and we have worked on her. This was a very satisfying win,” he said.
Trainer Sean Tarry’s heart was in his pocket after the false start.
“My three were definitely not candidates for a false start. And Spring Break’s chances were nullified after that. But well done to Chris (van Niekerk), Bosworth Farm and Klawervlei. This was a good win by Tropic Sun– a couple of weeks ago she would have just ripped away. It’s a happy moment for Chris as he owns both the stallion and the mare,” he added.
Skitt Skizzle (Jet Master), a half-brother to Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Zeeno, has only 18 foals registered in three crops. He has produced two black-type horses in stakes winner Cordilerra and Tierra Del Fuego.
Bred by Klawervlei Stud, the winner is out of the lightly raced Captain Al two-time winner Caribbean Dream – who also raced for Chris van Niekerk.
She has 3 wins with 5 places to her credit from 9 starts and took her earnings to R261 750 with this victory.
The false start perpetrator Mill Queen, and also Kayla’s Champ, was withdrawn after the incident.
