Milnerton-based third generation trainer Lucinda Woodruff maintained her impeccable KZN record of two feature winners from her only two runners in the province, when the consistent Mai Sensation overcame traffic issues to snare a courageous maiden stakes success in the R250 000 Dennis Drier Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
Trainer Lucinda Woodruff chats to breeder Terry Young at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
There can’t be a bigger platform than the Hollywoodbets Durban July day for any up-and-coming young trainer to celebrate the milestone of a first feature success and former multiple champion Geoff Woodruff’s daughter, and a granddaughter of the late legend Terrance Millard, Lucinda stepped on to the major stage on 6 July 2024 to win the Gr2 Merchants with Café Culture.
Some nine months later on a sunny Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday, Lucinda saddled only her second ever runner in the Holiday province and kept her 100% record intact as Rafeef’s talented daughter Mai Sensation (10-1) burst out of the scrum some lengths off the gallop under a superb ride by JP ‘Winx’ van der Merwe to go on and beat the gallant defending champion Asiye Phambili (6-1) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 69,43 secs for the 1200m straight.
While Candice Bass-Robinson’s more fancied Roccapina (7-2, tote favourite) failed to find a quartet place, their second-stringer Symphony In White (8-1) showed the benefit of her course experience and came with a late rattle for third, a further 0,30 lengths back.
JP van der Merwe drives Mai Sensation through as Diego de Gouveia rattles through late on third-placed Symphony In White (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Bred by Terry Young at Clifton Stud, the winner was another feature strike for Ridgemont’s Redoute’s Choice kingpin, Rafeef.
After three earlier feature winners, Vercingetorix was the successful broodmare sire, with his twice-winning daughter Mai Tai the winning dam.
Raced by Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith, Mai Sensation cost R500 000 off the National Yearling Sale and has now won 4 races with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R427 526.
Asked where to next for Mai Sensation, Lucinda Woodruff told the Sporting Post: “While there will be quite a swing at the weights, we will probably aim her at the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint next. She’s an improving 3yo and this was a courageous effort given the traffic issues that she encountered. Well done to Greg (Bortz) and Gina (Goldsmith) and I appreciate the support!”
