Mike de Kock’s rising star Desert Miracle had no answers for the storming late run of the Vercingetorix filly Chansonette from the high-riding Andre Nel yard in a thrilling climax to Saturday’s R500 000 World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas.
Having won the Cape Summer Stayers a half hour earlier, the Plattner-Nel-Van Niekerk combination posted a massive feature double just as Gavin Lerena looked to have the hotly fancied Gauteng visitor on cue for victory.
Grant van Niekerk and Chansonette pull off the shock (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Drifting across to the outside to join Desert Miracle, Chansonette straightened out and forged ahead to give her trainer a long overdue maiden Gr1 success.
Chansonette (16-1) beat the odds-on Desert Miracle by 0,20 lengths in a time of 100,07 secs.
The Rondeberg resident showed courage and real ability to beat Desert Miracle, conqueror of the boys in the recent Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes.
In a separate race, Snaith longshot Homely Girl (75-1) was 2,25 lengths back in third, with fellow 75-1 stablemate Mercury Rising in fourth.
A beautiful bay, Chansonette was largely ignored in the betting, despite her smart effort as runner-up in the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship at her last start.
In spite of declaring a good trip down from the North, Mike de Kock expressed reservations pre-race about the quality of the opposition beaten to date by his charge. What does this say about the North-South strength debate?
Grant van Niekerk said he was ‘speechless’ and thanked the Andre Nel team.
“I said it’s a pity we are bumping such a strong field. We took our chances. She is a special and smashing filly. I am so pleased I could give Andre Nel his first Gr1 – I promised that I would give him that milestone. He is a really good trainer!” declared an elated Van Niekerk.
Andre Nel said that he was glad that he had gotten the Gr1 ‘monkey’ off his back.
“She’s a special filly – she came in so well. I joked that it would take more than a miracle to beat us. Grant rode a pearler of a race. I have an issue that he can be too far back sometimes – but he assured me today he was on a mission. Thanks to Mrs Plattner and our whole team,” he added.
Chansonette was bred by Maine Chance Farms and is a second Gr1 winning daughter of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the twice-winning Querari mare, Champery.
It’s been a rewarding week for the Maine Chance kingpin, after his son Alesian Chief won the Gr3 Merchants at Turffontein on WSB Summer Cup day.
A R500 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Yearling, Chansonette has won 3 races with 2 places from just 5 starts for stakes of R427 400.
OFFICIAL RESULT
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | |||
| 1ST | 4 CHANSONETTE | WA Nel | G van Niekerk | 16/1 | ||
| 2ND | 1 DESERT MIRACLE | M de Kock | G Lerena | 0.20 | 0.20 | 36/100 |
| 3RD | 9 HOMELY GIRL | SJ Snaith | G Cheyne | 2.25 | 2.45 | 75/1 |
| 4TH | 7 MERCURY RISING | SJ Snaith | S Mbhele | 0.10 | 2.55 | 75/1 |
| 5TH | 6 MARIA QUEROL | SJ Snaith | R Fourie | 1.75 | 4.30 | 20/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 1 min 40.07 sec | ||||||
| Tote
Fav |
1 DESERT MIRACLE | M de Kock | G Lerena | 0.20 | 36/100 | |
