COMING into Friday evening’s Gr3 Umzimkhulo Stakes over 1400m at Greyville, three-year-old filly One Fine Day had been stakes-placed four times, including a second in the Gr1 Golden Horsehoe against the colts.

One Fine Day has had to live in the shadow of her stablemate Majmu, but her own Graded success was always on the cards and she came through in good style under Anthony Delpech to add this feature win to her impressive record.

One Fine Day, deserved Graded success.

Raised at Drakenstein Stud, One Fine Day is by Trippi from a mare by Kingmambo, the kind of blood almost certain to produce cracking offspring and Gaynor Rupert will be looking forward to the day this fast filly joins her broodmare band at the Franschoek farm. One Fine Day is not done yet, however, and she could well pick off a few more good prizes this season and next.

Stable veterans Nathan Kotzen and Steven Jell applied for partnership silks recently and their first runner, Persian Rug, won smartly on debut, staying on well in a 1400m under Anton Marcus.

Persian Rug, munching at the bit, the way all first-timers should win!

Persian Rug is a huge filly, she stands 17 hands high, and Marcus had to warm her up before the start as she appeared clumsy and green. She was green during the running of the race too, but focused as they came to the business end and drew away well to win by 3.75-lengths.

Persian Rug is by Ideal World from Queen of Persia, by Fort Wood and looks like she’ll stay all day. Jell commented: “Jessica Slack leased us this filly from Mauritzfontein Stud. We were looking at the young horses in the paddock and because of this filly’s size, Jessica reckoned that she wouldn’t be on the any priority lists. Nathan and John Buckler were keen on getting a horse we could race together so Jess kindly agreed to give us this one and what a pleasure it was to see her win.”

Persian Rug has a half-brother by Gimmethegreenlight that will come under the hammer at the BSA National Yearling Sale soon and Jell says the colt is a nice specimen