Fatal Flaw ran them ragged in the R1,25-million Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, making all the running from the worst of the draw under an inspired ride by 58-year-old superstar Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom.
And what a training feat by the father and son team of Brett and James Crawford! They were also successful earlier in the day when Oriental Charm made a sensational winning seasonal debut in the World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes.
Age is nothing but a number for Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom! (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Having decided to give the Betway Gr3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein the previous weekend a miss, the logistics were challenging as Fatal Flaw left her Randjesfontein barn earlier in the week, arriving in Cape Town just four days ahead of her most important engagement to date.
A brave decision, but one which brought Grade 1-winning Classic glory for the 3yo daughter of the ill-fated New Predator (Aus).
Fatal Flaw, who boasts an all-Australian pedigree, being out of the Rock of Gibraltar mare, Alinga (Aus), was bred by Laurence Wernars and sold for a “mere” R210 000 to Arun Chadha’s ASSM Racing Syndicate at the 2023 National Yearling Sale.
In winning aboard Fatal Flaw, Strydom plugged a gaping omission in his stellar CV, having never previously saluted in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, but for the Crawford stable it was their fourth success, following on the heels of Bad Girl Runs (2005), Front And Centre (2018) and Make It Snappy (2022).
Ironically, their stable jockey Kabelo Matsunyane emerged as the biggest threat when the Candice Bass-Robinson trained Scarlet Macaw loomed up dangerously, but Fatal Flaw had plenty in reserve and quickened again smartly over the final 100m to score decisively by two lengths.
Little Suzie under Sean Veale was doing her best work late to finish in third spot and, being out of the Met-winning mare Oh Susanna, we are likely to only see the best of this daughter of Trippi over slightly more testing trips.
The top four was rounded off by another Bass-Robinson inmate, Symphony In White, who was beaten with every chance. Gimmie’s Countess made some progress from the rear of the field but always struggling to find top gear and had to settle for fifth position, more than four lengths adrift of Fatal Flaw.
