A Smart Filly Cheered By Tens Of Thousands

Press Release: Racing. Itsarush

Subject: A Smart Filly Cheered By Tens Of Thousands Wins The J&B Met

Date: 30 January 2016

Today's J&B Met confirmed the brilliance of last year's three-year-old crop and the quality of Mauritzfontein Stud's new sire Ideal World as the now four-year-old filly Smart Call, trained by Alec Laird, beat a top class field in effortless fashion.

For the second week running a replacement rider for Weichong Marwing won a big race and the fortunate substitute this time was young JP Van der Merwe, who rode an ice cool race. Smart Call, who was bred and is also owned by Mauritzfontein Stud, won the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes just three weeks ago, and yesterday was her third career Gr 1 victory. Van der Merwe always knew he would be substitute but after a nail-biting week he eventually only received the call confirming Marwing would be stood down on the morning of the race.

Smart Call was always handy in about fifth place behind surprise pacemaker Legislate. The favourite, the Sean Tarry-trained Legal Eagle, turned for home in second place and had every chance. However, he had no answer to the filly, who swept to a commanding 3,5 length victory. She had been backed confidently by some and eventually converted odds of 8/1.

Legal Eagle, who started at odds of 16/10, held on for second and was a length clear of the Brett Crawford-trained 8/1 chance Captain America. The Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap winner, the Glen Kotzen-trained Light The Lights, showed just how much he had improved since gelding by finishing 4th at odds of 40/1. The Mike Bass-trained Gr 2 Premier Trophy winner Paterfamilias also confirmed the improved form he has shown this season by finishing fifth ahead of the disappointing Legislate. The biggest disappointment was last year's winner Futura, who could only beat three horses home in the 14 horse field despite looking a picture in the preliminaries. Alec Laird had to wait 19 years for this second Met triumph, having won it with the great London News in 1997.

The previous female horse to win the Met was the Bass-trained mare River Jetez in 2010. Jessica Slack of Mauritzfontein Stud searched for words to describe how she felt but didn't need to as she bubbled over with joy. She didn't forget to remember her beloved late grandmother Bridget Oppenheimer, The Queen Mum of South African Racing, who founded Mauritzfontein

Stud with her husband Harry. Pundits and handicappers will be wracking their brains measuring the performance of Smart Call as she simply annihilated the 120 merit rated Legal Eagle and did it easily, although she was receiving a 2,5kg allowance from him.

The other Gr 1 race on the day, the Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, was a thriller and the Brett Crawford-trained Gulf Storm just got there in a four-way dive for the line. The favourite Carry On Alice was out in front from quite early on in the race and as usual found another gear. However, she began to feel the effort in the final stages and three horses charged at her, Gulf Storm, Brutal Force and Tevez. Gulf Storm was running in first time blinkers and just got his nose down on the line to deny the giant Brutal Force. Carry On Alice was only 0,3 lengths further back and a short-head separated her and Tevez. Talktothestars finished fifth. Gulf Storm previously had a Gr 1 runner up spot to his name but that was in a handicap, so it was a notable step up in performance to win this prestigious Gr 1 event. The five-year-old Ascot Stud-bred Sail From Seattle gelding is owned by Delma Sherrell, who is mother of former Springbok rugby player and passionate racing fan, Lance Sherrell.

It was another unforgettable day for the Justin Snaith yard because by the time of going to press they had already notched up seven winners, breaking their Met meeting record of five winners, which they had achieved twice. The disappointing performances of Legislate and Futura did put a bit of a dampener on this fine achievement, but it was soon forgotten when Ovidio won the Gr 2 J&B Urban Honey Stayers.

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I have always loved this filly and have backed her in most of her starts against her own sex. I have been a herald for Ideal World since he landed but I could not back her today even with my ex-wife's money. I am so pleased to have been wrong and may Kingmambo and Mr Prospector live in the blood of her offspring. Her win was emphatic and though a disaster for my pocket was a J&B memory I will always treasure.

This Its A Rush article is incorrect. The last filly to win the Met was Igugu. Then in Bloodhorse, they say Smart Call is a 5yo mare which is incorrect :dry:

Heading of the article is misleading also.The tens of thousands could not have been rooting for a filly who had yet to beat the colts and was not like the crowd favourite Igugu.
The exact science used by the 3 wise men who rated the favourite Legal Eagle a 120 now looks to be tippexed and corrected? Was he left floundering in her wake. :lol:

Hi Mike, just think they were happy that the crowd was up on the previous year

Bob Brogan wrote: Hi Mike, just think they were happy that the crowd was up on the previous year

To be brutally honest Hibs, there were discounts and buy one get one free etc on offer this year so perhaps to answer the question of whethet the Met or the July, it now is clear that the July sells itself to a full house even if tickets are double the price of the R125-- Met tickets.

My 8 year old daughter and her 80+ year old great grandfather want to take bets in the July but didn't even know that the Met was yesterday !! :whistle:

I saw her in the flesh on 2014 summer cup day when she ran 2nd I think in the fillies mile. She is an absolute beauty. Finally fulfilled her potential, the way she went pass Legal Eagle was breathtaking.

it is never the question of 'or'. Always 'and' ! Met, AND July AND Summer Cup AND!! AND AND AND ! lol

most pleasing aspect about the met is I have yet to hear of any hard luck stories such as couldn't get a run baulked etc etc unlike some other big race run on the first Saturday of july..

pirates wrote: most pleasing aspect about the met is I have yet to hear of any hard luck stories such as couldn't get a run baulked etc etc unlike some other big race run on the first Saturday of july..

So true lol