Drakenstein homebred Inara (SAf) (Trippi) was let go at overlaid odds while facing her elders in the co-featured Paddock S., but got the job done in a blanket finish and earned a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in the process.
A maiden winner at this track at second asking at this track last June, Inara, a half-sister to the dam of the good stayer Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) was second at Durbanville Oct. 11 and a respectable fourth in the G2 Choice Carriers Championship here Nov. 8. The bay was no better than a 25-1 outside against the likes of Majmu (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) in the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas Dec. 6, but gave an outstanding account of herself when finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind in second.
One of the first into stride, Inara came back to Grant van Niekerk and dropped back into a midfield position with cover in the run to the turn. As the entire field migrated towards the outside rail, Inara was briefly in traffic, but was switched back towards the middle of the track as the real running began. She hit the front inside the final furlong and was just able to hold sway late, as Athina (SAf) (Fort Wood) and Jet Belle (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) came at her from either side.
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
MAINE CHANCE FARMS PADDOCK S.-G1, R1,000,000, KEN, 1-10, 3yo/up, f/m, 9fT, 1:51.41, gd.
1–#@sINARA (SAF), 119, f, 3, by Trippi
1st Dam: Mountains of Mist (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)
2nd Dam: Magic of Life, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Larida, by Northern Dancer
O/B-Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) (Saf);
T-Mike Bass; J-Grant van Niekerk. R625,000.
Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-1, R905,325. *1/2 to Madeira
Mist (Ire) (Grand Lodge), GSW, $504,204; and Misty
Heights (Ire) (Fasliyev), SW & MGSP-Ire, $140,066.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: F.
2–Athina (SAf), 131, f, 4, Fort Wood–The Heiress
(SAf), by Rich Man's Gold. O-Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd
(Nom: Mrs M Slack); B-Wilgerbosdrift (SAf); T-Joe
Soma. R200,000.
3–Jet Belle (SAf), 132, m, 5, Jet Master (SAf)–Bella
Bianca (Arg), by Ahmad (Arg). O-Drakenstein Stud
(Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) & Colin Bird; B-T L Bailes, C T
Elphick & S J Saunders (SAf); T-Glen Kotzen.
R100,000.
Margins: HD, HD, 2HF. Odds: 20.00, 12.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Pine Princess (SAf), Jet Aglow (SAf), Jet Supreme (SAf), Maybe Yes (SAf), Pecan Nut (SAf), Hammie's Hooker (SAf), Shingwedzi (SAf), Grey Light (SAf), Acrostar (Aus), Ash Cloud (SAf).
Click for the free Equineline.com five-cross pedigree.
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