Wilgerbosdrift Sa Oaks Gr.2
Takingthepeace (Visionaire) had a date with history as she was seeking to become the latest Triple Tiara winner. It was not to be, her gallantry falling three places short, with Secret Potion spoiling her party.
Chariot Of Gold (Silvano) set out to make every post a winning one and still held a commanding three-length turning for home. She maintained her advantage well into the straight, but had no answer when Secret Potion made a smart forward move up the centre.
Takingthepeace was also unleashing her familiar charge up the stand side, but Geoff Woodruff’s filly was not for the
catching and she powered home to win by just over a length from KZN raider Flichity By Far (Go Deputy). Chariot Of Gold stayed on gamely for third, while the favourite ran fourth.
It was a case of sweet revenge for the winner, who had finished just over a length adrift of Takingthepeace when third in the Gr.1 SA Fillies Classic. Ironically, Secret Potion succeeded where paternal half-sister Siren’s Call had failed some years ago. She was denied the Triple Tiara when beaten a head in the Oaks following victories in both
the Gr.1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr.2 Gauteng Guineas.
Bred by Dr Ian Heyns, Secret Potion is the latest stakes winner for Fort Wood’s champion son Elusive Fort and is out of Lemon Drop Kid (Parade Leader), an unplaced half-sister to the Gr.3 performed Casey Tibbs siblings Heat Of The Night, Naughty Prince and Cigar Boy. The former won the Gr.3 Langerman Stakes, Naughty Prince landed the Winter Classic and Cigar Boy ran third in the Winter Derby. Grandam Naughty Princess (Devilish Ninja)
was a Gr.3 winning juvenile and Gr.2-placed at three.
By Ritesh jamkhedkar-Ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com