WHEN three-year-old filly The Centenary won a handicap over 2400m in November 2014, Mike de Kock suggested that it wouldn’t take 100 years for her to win again, saying:  “She looks like an out and out stayer, she does just enough to make us happy in her home gallops but she excels over distance on the racetrack.

(JC Photos)

“When one sees Montjeu in any pedigree one sits up to take notice. The Centenary is starting to shape into a good prospect for Mr (Winston) Chow. She’ll see out 3200m and there will be some nice races for stayers to aim her at in due course.”

New-Zealand-bred by Mastercraftsman from Diamantaire, by Montjeu, The Centenary  won her third from nine starts when she took a MR78 Handicap over 2600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

Perhaps punters only looked at The Centenary’s form very late, or they remembered Mike’s words just before this race went off – she was easy to support around 5-1 before starting at shortened odds of 33-10.

Well-placed under a handy weight in this handicap following some fair runs in stronger company, The Centenary was saddled by Mathew de Kock and competently handled by Francois Herholdt.