TAKINGTHEPEACE (Anthony Delpech) made a sparkling return to racing with a decisive win in a MR68 Handicap over 1000m at the Vaal on Thursday.

Takingthepeace.

When Takingthepeace won as a two-year-old in June, Mathew de Kock said: “She’s a beautiful filly, we’ll put her away now, she’s a Ready To Run candidate for November.”

The stable and young owners’ wishes were fulfilled when she won at the Vaal, as Takingthepeace is now rated 90 and sure to qualify for the R2.5-million race on 4 November.

Mathew commented: “We are delighted for the owners, we’ll have three in the R2R race from the five we bought at last year’s CTS Ready To Run Sale – Puget Sound, Onamission and Takingthepeace. This one has plenty of pace but there is stamina in her damline, we’re not concerned about the 1400m of the Cup.”

The filly by Visionaire from Graded placed Lisa Anne was a R280,000 buy for Form Bloodstock and her name was changed to include the name of Murray Makepeace, who owns her in his first racehorse partnership along with Mike de Kock and former stable jockey Kevin Shea’s son, Michael, also a new owner.

Martha’s Vineyard (IRE). (JC Photos).

Delpech booted home a second winner for the yard in Mary Slack and Michael Javett’s filly Martha’s Vineyard (IRE), who took a leap from 1200m to a first attempt at 1800m and won a good MR68 Handicap.

“We looked up her pedigree and found stamina, so we’re happy our decision to try further with Martha’s Vineyard worked,” said Mathew.

She’s rated 68 after this win, in a bracket that will make her a dangerous runner anywhere up to a MR72 next time, so keep an eye out for this daughter of Exceed and Excel.