They say pace makes the race. Even though they dawdled, the R1 million Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes produced a thrilling finish with the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Beach Bomb getting her head down in the shadow of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth winning post to nab the gallant 6yo SA Horse Of The Year, Princess Calla.
With only six runners lining up in the 1800m Gr1, pace was always going to be a poser and it forced a few hands, including that of Richard Fourie who used Princess Calla’s long stride and ability to set sail for home early in the home straight.
Jp van der Merwe unleashes Beach Bomb as Princess Calla and Richard Fourie get stopped in their tracks (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The move by the top-class Fourie looked to be a winning one, but recent Highveld emigrant JP van der Merwe had other ideas.
The Bryanston Auctioneers-sponsored jockey got the painful end of the stick when he was beaten a nose by Beach Bomb in the Cape Fillies Guineas last month on Silver Sanctuary, but this time he was in the driving seat with the Bass-Robinson regulars unbale to make the 54kgs.
And after his diminutive mount had dropped the bit and relaxed early, Van der Merwe watched Fourie and Princess Calla grabbing a few lengths on them.
But Beach Bomb (5-2) is a tiny girl with a massive heart, and Drakenstein raced and bred galloper unwound and shot them down stride-by-stride to nab Princess Calla (1-1) and win going away by 0,30 lengths in a time of 113,16 secs.
Brett Crawford’s Happy Chance (16-1) looked dangerous on the rail and ran a cracker to grab third, and a further 0,30 lengths back.
Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas runner-up and WSB Cape Town Met entry Red Palace (33-10) was never in the hunt and was beaten 2,85 lengths in fourth.
Now a winner of two Gr1’s in a month for trainer Candice Bass -Robinson, the diminutive Beach Bomb had her merit rating raised from 98 to 117 after winning the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas in early December, when she enjoyed the distinction of being the first Gr1 winner for the deceased War Front stallion Lancaster Bomber.
She is a daughter of the champion Beach Beauty (Dynasty), and is thus teh first winner of the Paddock Stakes produced by a Paddock Stakes winner!
Beach Beauty won 17 races during her illustrious career, winning from 1000-2000m.
Her 12 graded wins including five Gr1 scores –two wins in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes and, like her daughter today, the Gr1 Paddock Stakes, and a triumph in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes.
She was also runner up twice in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, and third in the Gr1 J &B Met, when taking on the best males of her generation.
Beach Bomb has now won 4 races with a place from 6 starts for earnings of R1 563 263.
Enjoy the replay:
