Comparisons with the Galloping Goldmine Empress Club might be regarded as outrageous at this stage in some quarters, but Barend Botes’ Quid Pro Quo hardly raised a sweat when she beat the males to win the R650 000 Betway Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday.
Lance’s daughter does it again – Quid Pro Quo wins the Betway Gr2 Dingaans under Piere Strydom (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A trailblazer at her last start at Hollywoodbets Greyville seventeen weeks ago when becoming the first filly to win all of the 1200m Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship, the 1400m Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, and culminating in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over a mile, where she ran without front shoes after spreading a plate on the way to the start, Quid Pro Quo wrote the next chapter on Saturday of an unfolding fairytale that started modestly at the Vaal in a Maiden race in January this year.
And she had her doubters! She was racing first time against the boys – and fitter lads at that – and at Turffontein.
Winning rider Piere Strydom admitted that he was in the doubters group.
“I thought four months off – and we were taking on a De Kock horse. A fit as a fiddle front-runner from a good draw. All I can say right now is wow, wow, wow . I saw Greaterix in front of us and I just thought if her fitness lasts, we can do it. She just got there so quickly. Full marks to Barend. This is a superb training feat!” added the 58 year old veteran.
“She arrived in the parade ring, full of beans, sweating. But that’s just her. Piere Strydom is a remarkable rider. Thanks to my team. Thanks to the Kalils for the support. This is an honour and a privilege,” added the happy former jockey who just months ago made the interprovincial move from Summerveld to Turffontein.
Karen and Gerald Kalil enjoy the Quid Pro Quo (Piere Strydom) lead in with trainer Barend Botes (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The race worked out a dream and after tracking the pacesetting Greaterix (7-10) from a few lengths off, Strydom unleashed Quid Pro Quo (5-2) – and the race was over in strides.
We all wondered how we ever doubted her as she cruised in to beat Fire Attack (16-1) by 2,50 lengths in a time of 98 secs flat for the mile.
The highly regarded Greaterix faded late and was beaten a further 2,50 lengths away in third.
Quid Pro Quo is ordinary on paper – that just adds to the romance of a remarkable racing story! A daughter of Heuningsfontein-based Lance (Jet Master), she is raced and was bred by Gerald Kalil, one of the Botes stable’s first foundation owners, and is out of the five-time winning daughter of The Sheik, Delightful Diva.
Quid Pro Quo is living proof that there are no experts in this game! She was offered at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale by Summerhill Equestrian and bought back for just R60 000 by her breeder.
Now a dual Gr1 and Gr2 heroine, she has won 6 races with 2 places from 8 starts for earnings of R2 175 250.
Where to from here? Let’s leave that to Barend.
