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Ebony Flyer overcame her well known breathing problems to take the R500,000, Grade 1, WFA Klawervlei Majorca Stakes (1600m) at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Photo by Liesl King
The four-year-old mare, trained by Justin Snaith in the Cape, has had a wind operation to help her breathing during racing, and she might have to have further surgery, but on the evidence of Saturday's win she is still the best mare in South Africa over 1600m, breathing problems or not.
The race was run at a steady pace with from the outset with Gibraltar Blue (Anton Marcus) leading the way over Trinity House (Glen Hatt) with Frequent Flyer (Karis Teetan), Ebony Flyer and Dance With Al (Piere Strydom) next in line.
The field held their same position into the home straight where they fanned towards the outside section of the straight.
Gibraltar Blue continued to drift out over the final 400m and Trinity House was the first under pressure and began to wilt.
Frequent Flyer was the first to issue the challenge to Gibraltar Blue with 250m to run but Coetzee on Ebony Flyer wasn't letting her out of his sights.
When Coetzee eventually asked for that final effort, the hulking frame of Ebony Flyer stretched out to the line where she held a 1 ¾ length margin to the line from Frequent Flyer (Silvano) and Barcelona Winter (Western Winter) (Bernard Fayd'Herbe) running on strongly for third, a further neck back in third place.
The 1600m journey was run in 1 min 38.80 secs.
The win was the third of the programme for Snaith and Coetzee with both delighted for the mare overcoming her problems to her second Grade 1 victory after her Cape Fillies Guineas win over Igugu (AUS) in December 2010.
“I can probably take the blame for the Queens's Plate (fifth) when she seemed to have a flat run from a long layoff and we just thought that unfortunately her first two starts were two easy,” said Snaith.
“She is the best racing filly in South Africa over a mile and even with her little quirks they still cannot beat her. She is an absolutely super star.
“Once a horse gives wind problems it is not ideal. A top rugby player having a knee operation, yes the operation might be a success but it might not be perfect, but she is just that good. We are going to do a bit of work on her now and chat to Barry and make a decision on her future, but when it comes to ability this filly is world class,” he said.
“At about 450m I was trying to take my time with her coming up to Gibraltar Blue and I did not want to tackle her too soon. But Ebony Flyer just took me. She just took the bit and she reeled her in quickly and I thought now we are in business,” said Coetzee.
Coetzee said that there was no sign of Ebony Flyer's problem during the race, but that her heavy breathing is apparent on pulling up.
“It is always a concern when you are riding her every day during the week. You are conscious of it and obviously it can be better. But she is a great filly with great heart and that is part of what has got her there today,” he said.
Ebony Flyer, by Jet Master out of the Badger Land mare Sunshine Lover, has now won seven times from ten races and with two placings she has earned stake of R1,320,050 for owners Gaynor Rupert's Drakenstein Stud, Team Valor International managed by Barry Irwin, Mrs Vanashree and Mr Anant Singh.