“SOUTH Africa’s Pick 6 banker!” boomed excited race caller Clyde Basel when Mary Slack’s highly promising three-year-old filly Welwitschia (GB), strode away to a three-length win in a Progress Plate over 1600m at Turffontein’s inside track on Saturday.

Welwitschia (1-5 favourite), brought joy to punters as the opening banker on a Pick 6 Megapool Day that even Mike de Kock regarded as a “Pick 5”.

Welwitschia raced along comfortably at the back of a seven-horse field led into the straight by Checcetti and it was always evident that jockey Johnny Geroudis was just waiting to slip the big-striding daughter of Oasis Dream some rein.

Approaching the 400m-mark, Geroudis made his move and in a matter of just a few second Welwitschia was “all over them”. The race was over as a contest with 150m to run and Welwitschia was eased down to win from Hawker Hunter and Checcetti.

Geroudis felt that Welwitschia would be able to give stablemate Igugu a very good run for her money with more maturity, in a few months from now but, as it is, Mike won’t be taking any chances in the SA Fillies Classic on 26 March.

Both fillies have been nominated for the Grade 1 showdown  and Mike said: “If we race both of them one will have to lose! We’ll keep our options open. Welwitschia is very talented and there are a few other races we can consider. It’s exciting to have two such brilliant fillies in the stable at the same time.”