SA FILLIES CLASSIC DEAD-HEAT : SPICED GOLD AND HERE TO WIN
Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 07:56AM 
Click above to watch Spiced Gold and Here To Win dead-heat in the SA Fillies Classic (Gr1)
(Photo : JC Photos - Footage : Tellytrack)
SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)
Turffontein 1800m Turf
27 March 2010
The SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1), with a purse of R1 million, over 1800m at Turffontein yesterday had the crowd on their feet as the lead changed hands three times over the last 200m.
Nicci Garner reports that in the end, the judges couldn’t separate the favourite Here To Win (22-10) from the outsider Spiced Gold (40-1) and a dead-heat was declared. The race was run at a breakneck speed which in hindsight suited both the joint winners, known for producing their best late in their races. The ante-post favourite Alderry literally flew out of the gates and got to the front before giving up the lead to stablemate Fisani and regaining it in the back straight. They were followed by Generous Anna, Laverna and Quality Alone with Here To Win wide, some seven lengths off the pace and Spiced Gold between runners, just behind her.
Johnny Geroudis tried to pinch the race on Alderry as they turned for home. He pushed the button and she shot clear by three lengths with Fisani behind her and Generous Anna staying on strongly. Both Anthony Delpech (Here To Win) and Marco van Rensburg (Spiced Gold) were hard at work getting their mounts into full stride.
Alderry came under pressure at the 200m mark but kept finding extra, but Spiced Gold found a beautiful run near the rail and Here To Win was cutting back Alderry’s lead with every stride. Just 50m from home, Here To Win and Spiced Gold joined issue in front and after a bob-of-the-heads battle they had to share first prize.
“Here To Win is a good filly. We were forced to race wide and she will win many more,” said Anthony Delpech. Marco van Rensburg, riding his first Grade 1 winner, said: “I had no option from our draw but to drop Spiced Gold out and wait for a gap to appear. She was very game today!”
Spiced Gold’s trainer Stuart Pettigrew paid tribute to owner Peet Diedericks, who attended the World Cup in Dubai. This was Pettigrew’s first Grade 1 winner since Tyson won the Summer Cup in 2005. Here To Win’s Norwegian owner Erik Lobben flew in for the race and was in tears. “I picked her myself in Brazil,” he told the Neil Pretorius in the post race presentations.
SPICED GOLD (Kahal x Little Legend)
3 Year Old Chestnut Filly
Owners : Peet Diedericks and Mike Peixoto
Trainer : Stuart Pettigrew
Jockey : Marco van Rensberg
Breeder : Green Hill Stud
RACE RESULTS
| # | LBH | Horse | Kg | MR | Dr | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.00 | SPICED GOLD | 57.0 | 93 | 16 | M Van Rensberg | Stuart Pettigrew |
| 1 | 0.00 | HERE TO WIN (BRZ) | 57.0 | 93 | 9 | A Delpech | Mike de Kock |
| 3 | 0.25 | ALDERRY | 57.0 | 98 | 1 | J Geroudis | Mike de Kock |
| 4 | 2.00 | GENEROUS ANNA (AUS) | 57.0 | 98 | 15 | A Marcus | Charles Laird |
| 5 | 2.50 | JET TRAIL | 57.0 | 97 | 12 | B Smith | Alec Laird |
| 6 | 3.75 | ALL AFIRE | 57.0 | 93 | 5 | P Strydom | Alec Laird |
| 7 | 4.00 | LAVERNA | 57.0 | 92 | 4 | F Coetzee | Mike de Kock |
| 8 | 4.25 | FISANI | 57.0 | 99 | 14 | G Lerena | Mike de Kock |
| 9 | 5.50 | BUTTONWOOD TREE | 57.0 | 81 | 7 | *JP vd Merwe | Mike Azzie |
| 10 | 9.00 | SWEETIE PIE | 57.0 | 86 | 2 | C Orffer | Mike de Kock |
| 11 | 10.00 | AUTUMN SPLENDOUR | 57.0 | 83 | 13 | D David | Alec Laird |
| 12 | 10.50 | SALITA | 57.0 | 80 | 8 | G Wroggemann | Sean Tarry |
| 13 | 16.00 | GOT PERSONALITY (ZIM) | 57.0 | 88 | 3 | *D Mansour | Mike de Kock |
| 14 | 18.00 | QUALITY ALONE (AUS) | 57.0 | 96 | 10 | P Whitmore | Charles Laird |
| 15 | 21.00 | CYCLONE BARBARA | 57.0 | 71 | 11 | G Figueroa | Wallace Tolmay |
| 16 | 30.00 | REINE DU VICTOIRE | 57.0 | 72 | 6 | MJ Odendaal | Gary Alexander |
For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za
