Last season’s Equus Champion 3YO Filly Bela-Bela (Dynasty) showed her class in no uncertain terms when sweeping to a facile win in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes at Greyville –the final graded race on Vodacom Durban July day. The charismatic grey-four-year-old was all the rage for the 1600m contest, following a third in open company in the recent Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, and eventually jumped a 21-20 favourite. Bela-Bela’s stable mate Star Express (Silvano) was slow away and lost lengths at the start, as Kilauea (Trippi) went out to make the running.
The favourite raced mid-field, under a confident ride from jockey Anthony Delpech, as recent Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes winner, and second favourite, Just Sensual (Dynasty) tracked Bela-Bela. When Delpech asked Bela-Bela to go, the pair exploded down the inside and from there it was a matter of what would run second, with that honour going the way of course specialist She’s A Giver (Philanthropist), with recent Gr1 Empress Club Stakes runner up Bella Sonata (Silvano taking the third spot.
The race was a triumph for trainer Justin Snaith, who not only saddled Bela-Bela but also fourth place finisher Gimme Six (Gimmethegreenlight). Bela-Bela, now a triple Gr1 winner, won the Garden Province in a time of 94.89 for owners Varsfontein Stud and breeders Cheveley Stud.
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