Top sire Kahal is euthanized
June 29, 2014Mammoth Pick 6 on Saturday!
July 1, 2014SACRED stones of wisdom are said to bring good things to those who touch them, including the ability to focus intention on success and prosperity.
Wilgerbosdrift Stud’s Mary Slack buys, breeds and names her horses following hours of meticulous research. They run so consistently well it makes one wonder whether she has a collection of magic crystals to rub at times for fresh inspiration.
Mary’s four-year-old filly Wisdom Stone picked up only her second win from 11 starts in a moderate MR64 handicap field at Turffontein on Saturday, but she did so in convincing fashion, suggesting that maturity will bring further improvement and a perhaps a few more wins.
Wisdom Stone enjoyed herself out there, and so did jockey Marwing.
As luck would have it, Wisdom Stone found her way into this field of fillies and mares after a scratching from the originally declared line-up. More good fortune was presented when Weichong Marwing, one of the world’s best jockeys, was spotted on the reserve bench about to hunker down with his winter blankie. Having had the pleasure of sitting on any number of De Kock-trained racing machines in years gone by, he happily postponed a chilly mid-afternoon veteran’s nap to partner the filly in this 1450m contest.
Marwing rode a perfect start-to-finish race, controlling the pace. Most of Wisdom Stone’s supporters would have heard alarm bells ringing when a slate of fellow-contenders moved up to apply pressure going into the last 400m, but under Marwing’s persistently powerful driving she found plenty extra, nipping challenges in the bud.
Wisdom Stone drew clear by 2.50-lengths, with Marwing attributing the win to the fact that she had surprisingly managed to “relax nicely” while striding along – a tribute to the jock’s horsemanship after pre-race advice from assistant trainer Mathew de Kock that she has a tendency to over-race.
Wisdom Stone has true quality blood flowing through her veins, being by 2003 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Dalakhani from Watership Crystal, by Sadler’s Wells. Daughters of Sadler’s Wells mated with Dalakhani have produced the G1 winners Conduit, Reliable Man and Chinese White.
While Mary Slack may need to pull out those crystals to get Wisdom Stone to Graded winning level, the Irish-bred filly’s pedigree alone makes her yet another gem for the broodmare paddock Wilgerbosdrift. Horseplayers, for now, should focus on her merit rating for the possibility of a betting strike. Bumped up just three points to 66 for Saturday’s facile win, Wisdom Stone has good prospects of landing a follow-up win if the stable can find a handicap in the 66-70 range on the race operator’s programme.
2 Comments
well done Weichong.. you only learn from the best and to ride for the best is awesome, perhaps Mike should be putting you back on several of his up an coming entourage as well as his existing string.. . you cant teach an old dog new tricks.. he is proven with the stable….. 🙂 Anthony wont mind
All Mrs Slack’s winners come well planned and deserved, I wonder what her monthly bills are to feed all her thoroughbreds and she’s been doing this for decades, she must be feeding dozens of families just by creating work in her big horse empire. Nevermind that she can afford it, it is her ongoing big input of investments in SA racing that makes all the difference. She is an example to others, I so hope people like Mr Joffe of Shea Shea will extend his buys in the racing game, he seems to have the right luck too and can also make a huge difference, what he touches turns to gold. And he must bring all his big business fiends with him. Long may we see Mrs Slack;s colours winning!