Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1)

RAIN In Holland flew the Irish tricolour for Duke Of Marmalade when landing the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic at a lightning-delayed Turffontein last Saturday.

Lightning is a not infrequent occurrence at the Johannesburg course, and this Group 1 was off an hour late as a result.

Rain In Holland had already won the Gauteng Fillies Guineas (only a Group 2), she started second favourite here and Richard Fourie sent the Sean Tarry-trained filly clear just inside the final furlong to score by more than three lengths.

“Last time she was a lot more aggressive but today she was relaxed, and I got a bit worried,’ reported Fourie. ‘I thought that maybe she was not herself but, unlike last time, she didn’t hit any flat spots.”

She can be expected to start a warm favourite to complete the Triple Tiara for owner-breeder Gaynor Rupert if she lines up in the SA Oaks on April 2nd.

Drakenstein

Duke Of Marmalade, who won five consecutive Group 1s for Aidan O’Brien as a four-year-old in 2008, stood at Coolmore until bought by Mrs Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud in 2014.

He had his first South African Group 1 winner when Temple Grafin won the 2020 Garden Province and Rain Of Holland became his second when landing last year’s Thekwini.

The Duke was retired from stallion duties on veterinary advice last October and died the following month. His Danehill blood is considered an invaluable addition to South African breeding stock.

Red Saxon shocks in Mariba’s first Group 1

THE World Sports Betting SA Classic had to be delayed for almost as long and went to 25/1 shot Red Saxon, a colt by the Mercury Sprint winner Red Ray out of a mare by the Dermot Weld-trained Ballysax winner Casey Tibbs.

Red Saxon gave little-known black jockey Julius Mariba his first Group 1 success and is trained by Joey Soma, something of a character.

“I have been given a lot of breaks in my life – and some I have messed up,” he related. “But I felt that if I was any kind of a decent human being I had to give Julius a chance.

“He has come from nowhere and it hasn’t been easy for him to get rides, but he has worked very hard with this horse and the talent is there.”

Mike de Kock, whose Desert Miracle started hot favourite for the SA Fillies Classic but managed only third, had better luck with Al Muthana in the Group 2 Wilgerbosdrift Hawaii Stakes.

This Australian-bred son of Redoute’s Choice started favourite and, although he looked beaten with over a furlong to go, he found another gear to get up close home.

“This was a big step up but he is a very progressive sort and he has the acceleration if allowed to build it up,” said de Kock.

Kommetdieding returns

BLOB Durban July and Met winner Kommetdieding now has his sights set on the big prizes in Johannesburg and is expected to run in the Horse Chestnut Stakes on April 2 and the Premier’s Champions Challenge four weeks later.