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Dancewiththedevil delivered a scintillating finish to win the R2 million, Grade 1, Sansui Summer Cup(2000m) at Turffontein on Saturday.
Photo by Gold Circle
The five-year-old mare, under Gavin Lerena, swooped up late from last to record the biggest win of her career.
Owned, bred and trained by Mr St John Grey, the mare defied her critics to win a race over a distance that was commonly believed to be well beyond her capabilities.
The Modus Vivendi mare had already won three Grade 1's and a Grade 3 over 1600 metres this year, including the Grade 1 Gold Challenge at Clairwood, and was considered a 1600m specialist.
Interestingly the Gold Challenge was the only away win for the mare with all her previous victories coming at her home track of Turffontein.
Tote favourite, the people's horse, Pierre Jourdan jumped well and sat just off the lead for the early part of the race, together with The Apache. With no early pace on, Jet Jamboree won the battle for the lead, while Dancewiththedevil settled in her usual position at the rear of the field.
Jet Jamboree led the field into the home straight and with 400m to go Pierre Jourdan briefly loomed, before challenges came from Ilsanpietro and Rudra up the extreme outside.
The Apache also mounted a challenge, but as soon as Lerena asked Dancewiththedevil to get going, the mare changed legs and took off, passing horses as if they were standing still.
Dancewiththedevil hit the front with 50m left to go and from there the result was a done deal. The De Kock trained Ilsanpietro and Rudra filled the second and third positions, with the Apache back in fourth.
Lerena commented that the mare appreciated the sting out of the ground and added cheekily that she loved the 2000m.”She is a champion, let us not call it anything else” added St John Grey.
Dancewiththedevil, out of the Caesour mare Emperor's Dance recorded her eighth victory from 17 starts, taking her earnings to over R3.2 million.
Final results:
No Horse Jockey Kg Dist Time SP
3 DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL Gavin Lerena 58.0 0.00 121.82 15/14 ILSANPIETRO (BRZ) Weichong Marwing 56.5 1.25 122.05 13/2
8 RUDRA Anton Marcus 55.0 1.75 122.15 20/12 THE APACHE Raymond Danielson 58.5 2.50 122.29 75/20
13 SMANJEMANJE Grant Van Niekerk *0.0 53.5 2.75 122.33 18/116 REGAL RANSOM S'Manga Khumalo 52.5 3.25 122.43 70/1
