FISH River stamped herself as a filly with classic aspirations as she cruised home to win the R250 000 Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Australian-bred galloper was registering her first career stakes score at her seventh start, and made it look ever so easy.

Anthony Delpech had Fish River relaxed in third as Fort Vodka and Dame Kelly showed the way, with San Fermin at the rear after jumping slowly.

Fish River wins.

With Dame Kelly looking threatening at the 350m marker, Anthony Delpech’s body language spelt confidence as the champion jockey punched the smart 3yo out with the hands. The athletic filly lengthened her stride as she took over and asserted her authority.

In the run for the line the Mauritzfontein-owned racer outgunned her fellow Aussie San Fermin, who was not disgraced as she came from well back to run a good second, beaten just over 2 lengths.

The winner’s time was 85,37 secs and Fish River provided Anthony Delpech with his 100th winner of the season.

Mike de Kock commented: “Fish River is a smart filly, she had some growing to do so we sent her to the paddocks at Mauritzfontein for a while last year and she’s come back very well. On this run she will see out a mile, she beat a decent filly in San Fermin and she’s a Guineas candidate. I think the mile will be her limit though.”

Fish River is by Highlands shuttler Canford Cliffs and was bought at the Inglis Melbourne Sale by Mike and Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe.

Kilrain,decent stayer.

Kilrain landed the De Kock/Delpech double in a Pinnacle Plate over 2400m. Owned by Robert Bloomberg and Robin Hamilton’s Evanstan Investments, Kilrain had won six races and Mike thinks there are more to come.

He said: “I think staying is Kilrain’s game, he’s good enough to pick off a staying feature.”

Sir David Baird (2^nd) and Pietro Mascagni (4^th), both ran well in the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes and Mike said: “Sir David Baird was shifting about in the finish and his jock should have punched him out instead of changing the stick a few times.

“Yakeen ran unplaced, but he’s a good sort, better than this. Anthony chased the pace, he should’ve come from the back on Yakeen. But I think Surcharge would have beaten us anyway. He’s a really good horse.”

-Extracts from Sporting Post.