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The Dennis Drier trained Beach Beauty stamped herself as a solid Vodacom Durban July contender with a game victory in the first of the lead-up races, the R300 000 Group 2 Betting World 1900 (1900m) at Greyville on Tuesday evening.
Photo by Gold Circle
Beach Beauty was a firm 33-10 favourite in spite of Drier expressing concern over a perceived lack of a pacemaker. From the jump his fears looked to become reality as the mare broke smartly, but was immediately caught out in front.
“I had a lot of horses on my inside,” said jockey Sean Cormack, “But they were all reluctant to get near the speed. I was hoping that something would go and luckily Musi Yeni went past.”
Brandon Lerena, aboard rank outsider Lion In Winter, stretched well clear, with Master Plan and Yeni easing into second giving Beach Beauty a nice lead as she settled in third. The balance of the field was strung out behind in what proved ultimately to be a very sedate gallop.
Lion In Winter, 12 lengths clear at one stage, stopped quickly in the home straight as Cormack sent Beach Beauty up the inside rail to challenge Master Plan. The four-year-old daughter of former Vodacom Durban July winner Dynasty quickened smartly past her rival and kept finding to win the race by 1.5L in a time of 1.56.14.
Master Plan and Yeni stayed on to narrowly hold second from Chesalon (Bernard Fayd'Herbe) by a nose, with a fast finishing Solo Traveller and Kevin Shea in fourth.
“She settled nicely once she had cover,” said Cormack. “It turned into a bit of a sprint but she's good at that.
“Hopefully she gets a good draw in the Vodacom Durban July and I think she's a runner.”
Drier was circumspect when quizzed on the mare's Vodacom Durban July prospects.
“We will take it step by step,” he concluded cautiously.
Both Master Plan and Solo Traveller are currently outside of the top thirty horses on the log and their efforts should see them move into the top thirty.
They will however have to win one of the remaining lead-up races, if they are to have any chance of starting in the R3m, Group 1 Vodacom Durban July (2200m) at Greyville on July 7th. The next lead-up race is the R1 million, Group 1 Daily News 2000 (2000m) on June 2nd at Greyville.