Elegantrix bags Swallow Stakes; Zoombomber surprises

Canada-based SAJA graduate Ryan Munger rode a well-judged race to bag his first feature success on his current busman’s holiday when he stuck to his station down the inside to win the R225 000 Betway Listed Swallow Stakes on the Corne Spies-trained Elegantrix at the Vaal on Saturday, 17 January.

The fixture was moved from the Turffontein Standside early in the week, and produced some competitive racing.

In a fascinating visual spectacle, Gavin Lerena, who jets out to the USA on Monday to partner One Stripe in the Pegasus Invitational at Gulfstream Park, kept the previously unbeaten Rifle Queen hard up the outside, while the balance raced down the inside.

Right into the final 200m, Rifle Queen flashed her oodles of pace and dug deep all on her own.

But Munger had timed it perfectly, and despite dispensing wasted nervous energy giving the handlers a hard time before going into the gates, Elegantrix (33-10) broke her eight month drought when drawing away to beat the gallant ‘loner’ and tote favourite Rifle Queen (7-2) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 68,09 secs for the straight 1200m.

Munger said: "I thought her worst form was good enough to be competitive today. Maybe she didn't like the sticky going last time. She produced the goods!"

Xander Spies commented: "It's a lovely feeling when you have confidence and your horse produces. Thanks to the owners who have stuck by Elegantrix, through good and bad. Thanks also to our sponsors, Hollywoodbets and Winning Form."

Raced by Trevelen Pillay’s TKP Racing Rob Macnab, Braam van Huyssteen, & Stergio Poriazis, the winner was bred by the Greenacres Trust and Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud, and is an R850 000 BSA National 2yo Sale graduate. She is out of the once winning Danehill Dancer mare, Elegantes.

Now a winner of 3 races with 5 places from her 13 starts, she took her stakes earnings to R748 519.

The stable struck again in Race 10, a wide open lower division handicap over 1200m, with Zoombomber (Lancaster Bomber), who produced a storming finish to get up on the line. He was beaten a short head a Greyville earlier this week.

Jockey Smanga Khumalo said: "I felt 1600m was just a touch too far in the week, credit to Mr Spies for bringing him back, he felt ready on the canterdown and won a nice race."

Corne Spies said: "Credit to SManga for coming all the way out to the Vaal for one ride, it paid off for him. Kudos also to the track manager, the track is in good condition. Thanks to the supporters and members of Green Lightning Racing, who own Zoombomber."

Xander said: "Today was very special, we have a lot of members in Green Lightning and we haven't had a winner for a while. Well done to all of them."

(Extracts: Sporting Post).