Muzi Yeni capped a Justin Snaith treble at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday with a smart win on the Lancaster Bomber filly in the R200 000 Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes.
A change of conditions in the Champagne Stakes forced the champion trainer’s hand to try his luck in the 1400m feature with the Drakenstein bred and raced galloper.
Muzi Yeni has Be Merry full of running to win her first stakes trophy (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A pole position draw, galloping weight and modest pace saw the stars align for the 3yo to crack her first stakes win, her performance suggesting that a mile could even be with her scope.
Mainly campaigned over the sprints, with one placed effort at her only try beyond 1200m in the Listed Lady’s Slipper at Fairview last term, Be Merry was given a perfectly judged ride by visiting rider Muzi Yeni, and was the ham on the Highvelder’s treble sandwich.
Callmegetrix cut out the early numbers followed by Princess Izzy and Gimmethatpearl, with Be Merry loping along in the firing line.
At the 250m , Be Merry (6-1) put her ears back and ran past Gallmegetrix (8-1) to win by a length in a time of 87,68 secs for the 1400m.
Candice Bass-Robinson achieved a 2-3-4-5 placing, with Scarlet Macaw (25-2) in third followed by Gold Poker Game (20-1) and Rainbow Lorikeet (7-2) in fifth.
Bred and raced by Drakenstein, Be Merry is by the champion farm’s deceased War Front stallion Lancaster Bomber out of the four-time winning Captain Al mare, The Merry Widow.
Be Merry has now won 4 races with 5 places from 10 starts for stakes of R425 326
