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Louis The King poleaxed a highly regarded field in the R1 million Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein, streaking to a 5.25 lengths victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown series for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The sturdy son of Black Minnaloushe gave the Woodruff-Fradd combo a classic double following another impressive victory by the Australian import Arcetri Pink in the R500,000 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Starting at odds of 15-1 Louis The King did not have the best of the running from his No 11 and was well behind the vanguard in the early stages on a rain affected track.
At the 1000m mark the race caller put him 12 lengths behind pace-setter and favourite Mister Cricket, who skipped three lengths clear at the 600m before weakening out of it.
By contrast, Louis The King galloping relentlessly up the outside of the track, where the going was clearly superior, he left his rivals floundering in the mud.
The colt is now a four-time winner from five starts, has amassed R842,000 and looks quite capable of handling the step-up in distance for the second leg of the Triple Crown, the SA Classic at the end of March.
Alec Laird, who saddled four of the top six runners in the betting, had some measure of consolation in collecting the second, third and fourth place cheques with Forest Indigo, As You Like and Bouclette Top.
Laird’s previously unbeaten Mister Cricket faded to finish 10th.
Geoff Woodruff’s filly Arcetri Pink dispelled doubts about her ability to stay the Turffontein 1600m when she scored an emphatic victory in the Fillies’ Guineas.
The Australian import began her racing career with two smashing wins early last year, but then lost her way. However, it’s said that true class always reveals itself, and the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar certainly mastered this handy-looking line-up.
Arcetri Pink saluted by 1.5 lengths from stable companion Not Sulking, who was far from disgraced in defeat and will pay to follow during the autumn Highveld season.
Top grade five-year-old gelding Whiteline Fever was rewarded for his consistency when he landed the R400,000 G3 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m.
Trainer Sean Tarry said he was amazed Whiteline Fever had not yet won a G1 race but indicated that could be put right shortly when he contests the Horse Chestnut Stakes at the end of this month.
