Along Came Polly (SAF), trained by Gavin van Zyl (pictured) and ridden by S'Manga Khumalo, bounced back to winning ways with a comfortable victory in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on Friday night. Arcetri Pink (SAF) ran on for second ahead of deadheaters Jet Aglow (SAF) and Espumanti (SAF).
Sea Shadow took up her usual role at the head of affairs with Jackodore tracking her closely. Jet Aglow took the box seat on the rails with Tip Toe and Espumanti next best. Along Came Polly also settled on the rail with Negev and Festival Of Fire to her outside. Arcetri Pink settled in midfield alongside Classic Illusion and ahead of Cherry On The Top and Not Sulking.
Jet Aglow made her move soon after entering the straight and kicked clear by a couple of lengths. Along Came Polly and Espumanti were soon after her, with Festival Of Fire also trying to get into it. Arcetri Pink eventually saw daylight and came for a run up the centre of the track while Not Sulking went for her run down the inside.
Along Came Polly got to grips with Jet Aglow about 200m and swept past her, effectively ending the race as a contest. Arcetri Pink made some late inroads but Along Came Polly was well in command and won by just over a length.
The career trajectory of Along Came Polly has been remarkable to say the least. She bypassed the maiden ranks at the start of her career last season and was thrown straight into feature race company, since spending most of her races competing at the highest level and winning the Equus award for champion juvenile filly. This was only her second career win but both have been Gr 1 events.
Arcetri Pink was not disgraced in defeat. Having been tagged as an out-and-out sprinter not too long ago, she's been a bit of a revelation since learning to settle in her races and has established herself as one of the better female milers around on the evidence of this run and her Gauteng Fillies Guineas victory.
Jet Aglow may have just needed the run following a three-month break, as she accelerated well enough when asked but just ran out of steam in the closing stages, while Espumanti showed that she is always a threat over this trip against her own sex and shouldn't be long in picking up her next win.
Fifth-placed Not Sulking deserves a mention after being slowly away and not enjoying the most straightforward passage in the straight. She wasn't beaten too far here and is another one due to notch up a victory of her own.
3 b f Judpot (USA) - Perfect Polly by Model Man
Owned: Mr B D Burnard
Bred by Varsfontein Stud
Winning trainer: Gavin van Zyl
Race 7 - R1M - L JAFFEE EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (Grade 1)
For Fillies and Mares - 1600m |
| No |
Horse |
Jockey |
Al/Bl |
Kg |
Dr |
Fin |
Dist |
Time |
OP |
SP |
| 13 |
ALONG CAME POLLY |
S'Manga Khumalo |
A |
57.5 |
3 |
1 |
0.00 |
96.21 |
6/1 |
5/1 |
| 12 |
ARCETRI PINK (AUS) |
Kevin Shea |
A |
57.5 |
9 |
2 |
1.25 |
96.44 |
7/1 |
12/1 |
| 2 |
JET AGLOW |
Sean Cormack |
A |
60.0 |
4 |
3 |
2.00 |
96.58 |
4/1 |
7/2 |
| 3 |
ESPUMANTI (GB) |
Anthony Delpech |
A |
60.0 |
5 |
3 |
2.00 |
96.58 |
8/1 |
6/1 |
| 14 |
NOT SULKING |
Anton Marcus |
A |
57.5 |
13 |
5 |
2.50 |
96.67 |
5/1 |
11/2 |
| 4 |
FESTIVAL OF FIRE |
Bernard Fayd'Herbe |
A |
60.0 |
8 |
6 |
4.75 |
97.09 |
7/1 |
7/1 |
| 1 |
CHERRY ON THE TOP |
Weichong Marwing |
A |
60.0 |
15 |
7 |
4.80 |
97.10 |
7/1 |
9/1 |
| 6 |
CLASSIC ILLUSION |
Keagan Latham |
A B |
60.0 |
1 |
8 |
8.30 |
97.76 |
33/1 |
125/1 |
| 8 |
UPTOTHEMOON |
Wesley Marwing *2.5 |
A B |
60.0 |
14 |
9 |
8.80 |
97.85 |
25/1 |
125/1 |
| 7 |
SEA SHADOW |
Gavin Lerena |
A |
60.0 |
7 |
10 |
9.30 |
97.95 |
12/1 |
33/1 |
| 9 |
NEGEV |
Deon Sampson |
A B |
60.0 |
6 |
11 |
9.55 |
97.99 |
33/1 |
75/1 |
| 5 |
JACKODORE |
Piere Strydom |
A |
60.0 |
12 |
12 |
11.55 |
98.37 |
12/1 |
20/1 |
| 11 |
LUALA |
Gunter Wrogemann |
A |
60.0 |
2 |
13 |
14.30 |
98.90 |
50/1 |
125/1 |
| 15 |
FOR THE LADS |
Randall Simons |
A |
57.5 |
10 |
14 |
17.05 |
99.44 |
33/1 |
66/1 |
| 10 |
TIP TOE |
Raymond Danielson |
A |
60.0 |
11 |
15 |
30.80 |
102.21 |
14/1 |
40/1 |
|
.png)
