MARY SLACK was disappointed that her brilliant mare Mother Russia was beaten into second in the 2011 J&B Met, but she purchased Mother Russia’s full-sister on the second day of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale last Friday and will be counting to the days to the first racetrack appearance of this as yet unnamed bay filly by Windrush from Russian Muse.

Two Slack-owned fillies bought at the 2010 Goffs Sale won at the Vaal on Sunday and Mary said on Tuesday that she was really chuffed, as both look very promising.

Berry Blaze (IRE) (28-10) and Welwitschia (GB) (8-10, headline photo),  made impressive winning debuts in Maiden Plates over 1200m, Berry Blaze getting up to win  by a short head under Randall Simons and Welwitschia streaking clear by 7.50-lengths in the hands of Johnny Geroudis.

Berry Blaze (Randall Simons). – JC Photos.

Berry Blaze was green and came with a late rattle to win. She’s by leading European sire Danehill Dancer from Strawberry Roan, by Sadler’s Wells and her stakes-winning dam is superbly related. Her own sister Imagine won the Epsom Oaks and the Irish 1000 Guineas and her half-brother Generous won the Epsom Derby and King George.

Welwitschia is by Oasis Dream, another boom sire in Europe, from Maid For Romance, by Pursuit Of Love. Her dam is a half-sister to four international stakes winners.

Assistant trainer John Buckler said: “Berry Blaze and Welwitschia are nice fillies and we look forward to their progress over the next few months. They didn’t beat all that much, but they could only win and Berry Blaze, in particular, showed courage to win after running around, she will come on a lot with more experience.”