Young filly Nafaayes and jockey Warren Kennedy made the most of a trifling 51kg weight to grab victory in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Australian-bred daughter of Exceed And Excel, trained by Mike de Kock and starting as the tote favourite, also had the advantage of a No 4 draw at the 1600m start. She was never further back than second in the running, with 9-2 shot Redberry Lane encouraged to set the pace.

Lyle Hewitson, fresh off victory in the Grade 1 G-Bets Gauteng Summer Cup moments earlier, was perhaps a touch eager aboard Redberry Lane in this prestigious contest for fillies and mares.

Bidding to give trainer Sean Tarry his sixth win from the first eight events on the programme, the young champion pushed his mount some 2.50 lengths clear in front – and the effort took its toll in the straight.

With 600m to go, Nafaayes already had the measure of the leader and breezed a good four lengths clear of her rivals.

Catching De Kock’s three-year-old from there was always a tall order, even for the useful, well-fancied Al Danza (3-1) from Geoff Woodruff’s stable. The latter galloped gamely into second but couldn’t get closer than 2.80 lengths.

Sylvan On Fire (11-1), who raced prominently throughout, was a commendable third in this field, ahead of KwaZulu-Natal raider Fiorella (7-1), trained by Duncan Howells.

Tabnews