Seventh Plain emulates his sire to win the Gr1 Gold Medallion
Trainer Dennis Drier notched up a superb fourth consecutive victory in the R600 000 Tsogo Sun Gr1 Gold Medallion when the very progressive Seventh Plain showed his field a clean pair of heels to make it a Gr1 double in the event for his sire Seventh Rock and owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste – who made it three in a row!
Scottsville’s premier raceday has been dominated over the past few years by the Jooste Bok colours and between trainers Dennis Drier and Charles Laird, South Africa’s most powerful owners have enjoyed plenty of success.
The win by the recent Gr3 Godolphin Barb victor Seventh Plain today was a second Gr1 for his sire, Seventh Rock, who also produced last year’s Drier/Jooste winner, Guiness.
Seventh Rock wore the Jooste silks when he won the race in 2007 beating fellow present day sire Argonaut. He was trained by Charles Laird. The combination won it again in 2008 with yet another present day sire in Warm White Nights.
This was a third straight win in the race for the Jooste partnership, who only missed in 2012, after Delago Deluxe won it for them in 2011.
Trainer Dennis Drier – superb training feat
A field of nine lined up to contest the 2yo male speed championship and the pace was on from the break with Just Africa leading Redcarpet Captain, with Muwaary and Seventh Plain in touch.
At the 400m marker Seventh Plain loomed up smoothly, with S’manga Khumalo hard at work on Redcarpet Captain down the inside, and Muwaary looking to have running in him.
At the 200m it was race over though and Seventh Plain powered away to give Anton Marcus an armchair Gr1 win and beat Gr3 Protea Stakes winner Redcarpet Captain by 2,50 lengths in a time of 70,07 secs.
Dominic Zaki’s recent runaway debut winner Prospect Strike only got into top gear when the race was largely a done deal and he changed legs and flew late to be beaten a further head back into third under recent Gr1 icebreaker, Craig Zackey.
Mike De Kock’s Muwaary took a bump and was slow away and then used up valuable energy, fading late for fourth. He looks a very decent sort and should pay to follow over further once he has settled down and learns what it is all about.
There was little to choose amongst the top four finishers in the betting and they outclassed the balance of the field, as expected.
Seventh Plain started 22-10 and also went off a popular totalisator favourite.
The Klawervlei Stud-bred colt is the second Gr1 winner sired by Klawervlei stallion Seventh Rock and is out of the six time winning National Emblem mare Amber Plain.
He is a R400 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2 graduate and took his stake earnings to R559 375 with his third win and one place from four starts.
Hats off to Dennis Drier on a fine achievement. He remains one of the best judges of horseflesh in the country and his results speak for themselves.
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Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion (SAf-Gr1)
Scottsville, South Africa, May 23, R600k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.10.07
1 – SEVENTH PLAIN (SAF), 60.0, b c 2, Seventh Rock (AUS) – Amber Plain (SAF) by National Emblem (SAF). Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste; Breeder Klawervlei Stud; trainer DR Drier; jockey A Marcus
2 – Redcarpet Captain (SAF), 60.0, b c 2, Captain Al (SAF) – Divine (SAF) by Kabool (GB)
3 – Prospect Strike (SAF), 60.0, b g 2, Toreador (IRE) – Prospect Fever (USA) by Mr Prospector (USA)
Margins: 2.50, 0.15, 0.50
