Fly By Night (SAF) finished off last season as arguably the most improved performer in the country, having made the transition from handicapper to Gr 1 winner in a matter of a few months. She confirmed the level of those performances with an impressive victory in the Gr 2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Alboran Sea (SAF) was not disgraced in second, finishing well clear of Savannah Song (SAF) and Varikate (SAF) in the minor placings.
Alboran Sea dashed into an immediate lead, going a couple of lengths clear of Fly By Night, Savannah Song, The Which Doctor and Varikate, who did not show her usual tearaway speed.
Alboran Sea had most of the field under pressure entering the last furlong and looked set to justify strong betting support. Jockey Bernard Fayd'Herbe, however, rode a supremely confident race aboard Fly By Night, shaking her up and producing a well-judged late rush to catch the long-time leader and ease past for a half-length victory.
Fly By Night's paddock value has increased exponentially between April and now, with her Gr 1 performances including a victory in the Mercury Sprint and a narrow second to champion Via Africa in the SA Fillies Sprint. There was a lot to like about the way she went about her business here and she looks a natural contender for such races as the Sceptre Stakes and Diadem Stakes.
Alboran Sea put up a bold front-running effort and she will be back in the winner's box before long, as she had the rest of the field well beaten.
Savannah Song and Varikate didn't really threaten and the latter, who usually shows good pace and put together some really smart form during the winter,.was not quite at her best today.
5 b m Jet Master - Fly The Wind by Model Man
Owners: Messrs M J Jooste, Bryn Ressell & N M Shirtliff
Bred by Patricia Devine Investments (PTY) Ltd
Winning trainer: Mike Bass (pictured)
Race 5 - R400K - TONY TABERER SOUTHERN CROSS STAKES (WFA) (Grade 2)
For Fillies and Mares - 1000m |
| No |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Al/Bl |
Kg |
Dr |
Fin |
Dist |
Time |
OP |
SP |
| 2 |
FLY BY NIGHT |
Bernard Fayd'Herbe |
M W Bass |
A |
60.0 |
1 |
1 |
0.00 |
58.21 |
7/2 |
3/1 |
| 7 |
ALBORAN SEA (AUS) |
Anthony Delpech |
M F De Kock |
A |
56.0 |
2 |
2 |
0.50 |
58.30 |
16/10 |
11/10 |
| 6 |
SAVANNAH SONG |
M J Byleveld |
V H Marshall |
A |
60.0 |
3 |
3 |
6.75 |
59.43 |
16/1 |
25/1 |
| 5 |
VARIKATE |
Richard Fourie |
S J Snaith |
A |
60.0 |
6 |
4 |
7.15 |
59.51 |
7/1 |
12/1 |
| 3 |
LANNER FALCON |
Grant Van Niekerk |
M W Bass |
A |
60.0 |
8 |
5 |
7.20 |
59.52 |
7/1 |
8/1 |
| 1 |
PRICELESS JEWEL |
Sean Cormack |
A N Marcus |
A |
60.0 |
5 |
6 |
7.60 |
59.59 |
5/1 |
8/1 |
| 4 |
THE WHICH DOCTOR |
Karl Neisius |
G S Kotzen |
A |
60.0 |
4 |
7 |
7.80 |
59.63 |
25/1 |
33/1 |
| 9 |
ARRIA |
Corne Orffer |
S J Snaith |
A |
56.0 |
9 |
8 |
11.05 |
60.24 |
20/1 |
25/1 |
| 8 |
ROSIER |
Greg Cheyne |
G S Kotzen |
A |
56.0 |
7 |
9 |
16.55 |
61.30 |
7/1 |
15/2 |
|
