Sean Tarry celebrated a terrific start to the Senor Santa Stakes featured Turffontein raceday on Saturday when runners from the multiple SA Champion’s yard ran 1-2-3 in the R175 000 Listed Drum Star Handicap.
The fast improving Keagan de Melo is riding winners in three provinces and the young Durbanite did the honours with a sweetly-timed ride to get the enigmatic 2019 Gr1 Summer Cup winner Zillzaal home after an extended period in the wilderness for the now 6yo son of Silvano.
Keagan de Melo steers Zillzaal to victory (Pic – JC Photos)
De Melo stalked the pacemaking favourite Reunion for much of the race.
When the favourite appeared to stumble at the 250m marker, Zillzaal (33-1) moved up powerfully and bounded clear to beat stablemates Shango (16-1) and Nebraas (8-1).
The winning margin was 1,40 lengths with the winner clocking 110,3 secs.
Tarry’s Tierra Del Fuego ran fifth in a great race for the Randjesfontein yard.
Sean Tarry attributed the turnaround in Zillzaal’s performance to the removal of the blinkers.
An Al Adiyaat bred and raced son of deceased champion sire Silvano (Lomitas), the winner is out of the unraced Giant’s Causeway mare, Zulaal.
A winner of 5 races with 9 places from 22 starts for stakes of R2 289 025.
