Carrying a record of three-for-four into this top-level contest, 9-10 crowd's pick Silver Mountain (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) never gave her backers a moment of doubt with a facile five-length victory in the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth Saturday. She was the fourth G1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner for trainer Mike Bass, who also saddled third-place finisher Taffety Tart (SAf).
The Maine Chance Farms colorbearer settled well off the rail in midfield as Ocean's Swell (SAf) (Jay Peg {SAf}) led the way. Able to save a bit of ground down the backstretch, Aldo Domeyer steered the hulking bay in between horses leaving the bend. Engaged in earnest at the head of the home straight, Silver Mountain swooped to the head of affairs in short order and cantered to the line an easy winner. Our Destiny (SAf) took second over Taffety Tart. Longshot Valediction (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) clipped heels entering the first turn and dumped jockey Gareth Wright, but Wright was able to ride the remainder of his mounts Saturday.
“Big horses are big pressure,” pilot Aldo Domeyer told the Sporting Post. “And today they wouldn't allow us in so it was tougher. But she settles like a professional and when I asked her she gave it to me. She has a superb turn of foot and is really something special. I must thank the whole team–their hard work makes the difference.”
Second at first asking at Kenilworth June 20, Silver Mountain promptly rattled off three-straight wins starting with a score going about six furlongs at that venue July 11. She added a 1200-meter affair at Durban in her 3-year-old bow Oct. 10 and nabbed her first graded score in the G2 Choice Carriers Championship back at Kenilworth Nov. 7.
Bred by Highlands Farm Stud Ltd, Silver Mountain is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Artie Schiller (El Prado {Ire}). Her second dam is GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Hollywood Oaks heroine Hidden Light (Majestic Light). Silver Mountain was purchased for R1.3 million by Tina Rau Bloodstock out of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale for Maine Chance Farms.
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
WORLD SPORTS BETTING CAPE FILLIES GUINEAS-G1, R1,000,000 (US$69,607), KEN, 12-5, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.72, gd.
1–&SILVER MOUNTAIN (SAF), 132, f, 3, by Silvano (Ger)
1st Dam: Our Table Mountain (SW-SAf),
by Fusaichi Pegasus
2nd Dam: Hidden Light, by Majestic Light
3rd Dam: Tallahto, by Nantallah
(R1,300,000 Ylg '14 CAPJAN). O-Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd
(Nom: Dr W A & Mrs N Jacobs); B-Highlands Farms Stud (Pty)
Ltd; T-Mike Bass; J-Aldo Domeyer. R625,000. Lifetime Record:
5-4-1-0, R980,500. *1/2 to Helderberg Blue (SAf) (Jet Master
{SAf}), G1SP-SAf; Careful Hike (SAf) (Spectrum {Ire}), G1SP-SAf.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: F.
2–Our Destiny (SAf), 132, f, 3, Var–Plumosa (SAf), by Sapieha
(Ire). O-J Rey, R J Rixon & Mrs V Rixon; B-Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd
(SAF); T-Glen Kotzen. R200,000.
3–Taffety Tart (SAf), 132, f, 3, Trippi–Rock Candy (Arg), by
Candy Stripes. (R150,000 RNA Ylg '14 SADAPR; R300,000 2yo
BSAAUG). O-Gary Player Stud Farm (Nom: G J Player), M S
Jolly & I W Longmore; B-Mike Jolly Breeding (SAF); T-Mike
Bass. R100,000.
Margins: 5, HF, NK. Odds: 0.90, 100.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Anglet (SAf), Bela-Bela (SAf), Noor (SAf), A Time to Dream (SAf), Flying Ice (SAf), Well in Flight (SAf), Miss Marker (SAf), Ocean's Swell (SAf), Valediction (SAf). Scratched: Icy Fire (Saf).
Click for the Racing Post result, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. SAf VIDEO.
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