ARCHIPENKO’s imported daughter Sheema (BRZ) put her name on the board with an easy success at the Vaal on Thursday, winning a straight-mile Maiden by 9.25-lengths under Anthony Delpech.

Sheema (headline photo) got away with her win just half an hour before rain put paid to the meeting and Gerald Coleman, who races her with Mike de Kock, would have been delighted with the way she won. Three-year-old Sheema has looked on the moderate side so far, but she may well be a late improver who can pick up another race or two.

Gerald is one of the “founding fathers” of Mike de Kock racing, having been there in the first few weeks of Mike’s career when the then youngster felt pressure and almost turned things up after a few weeks in charge of a big string.

How things have changed. They’ve had many winners since those early days in the late 1980s and almost pulled off a huge upset when finishing second in the 1995 Durban July with stalwart home-bred, Barrellen.

Delpech and assistant trainer Clayton Matthee believe Sheema will win again, Depech saying: “She was just running in my hands and she quickened well.”

Let’s hope so, it’s always nice to see the Coleman silks in the winner’s box!