SOUTH AFRICA: Three year-olds In Action At Turffontein

3 minute read

The Grade 3 Starling Stakes(1400m) produced an exciting finish as Katy's Lane, stormed home late to win on the line.

Amazing Grace led the field from the jump and brought them into the home straight, ahead by three. With 350 m left to go, Bluroute (AUS) who had been stalking the leader, made her move up the middle, together with Jackadore and Amur Affair.

In the charge for the line it looked as if Bluroute would get there first, but Katy's Lane, coming from way back in the field, produced a blistering run up the centre of the track, under Pierre Strydom, to win by half a length from Bluroute. Amur Affair was a close third a further quarter length back.

Katy's Lane, trained by Tyrone Zackey, has now won her last three starts after placing third on debut. The filly, bred by Chevely Stud, is by Tamburlaine out of the Lustra mare Beautiful Piper and is owned by Messrs D Bothma and F C Bothma and Mr K P and Mrs N M Backos.

The Graham Beck Stakes (1400m) for three year-old colts was next on the card and here the Ivan Moore trained, Astro News, managed to find the line just in time, from a flying Whiteline Fever.

Astro News stalked the early leaders, while Whiteline Fever settled towards the rear of the field.

With 400m to go Astro News pulled clear to lead by three, with Brooks Club and early leader Indian River chasing hard.

At the 200m mark, Robbie Fradd on Whiteline Fever came flying up the outside and it looked as if he would catch Astro News in a matter of strides. But Corne Orffer, on Astro News, managed to keep the colt going to score by a length, with Brooks Club in third a further 1.25L back.

Astro News, in the famous black silks with the red maltese cross, was recording only his second win from 12 starts for owner Fred Crabbia. He did however show early promise with a third in the Grade 2 SA Nursery.

The Silvano colt, bred by the Oldlands Stud, is out of the Dominion Royale mare Orange Moon.

No Horse Jockey Al/Bl Kg Dr Fin Dist Time OP SP Prev

8 ASTRO NEWS Corne Orffer A 54.0 7 1 0.00 84.24 20/1 15/1 CD204

7 WHITELINE FEVER Robbie Fradd A 54.0 5 2 1.00 84.42 7/1 14/1 CD214

10 BROOKS-CLUB Raymond Danielson A 54.0 4 3 2.25 84.65 8/1 15/2 TN234