Laurelin rules at Saratoga

HERE was plenty of racing around the globe for South African purists to support on Saturday and the highlight was the Gr 2 victory at Saratoga Downs by a Stephen and Jessica Jell-owned filly called Laurelin, although there was disappointment at Colonial Downs for the SA-bred pair Beach Bomb and Isivunguvungu, while South African Jockey Academy Graduate Kris Teetan managed a second and a third in five rides as captain of the Rest Of The World team in the Shargar Cup at Ascot.

- DAVID THISELTON

Locally the racing was at Turffontein Standside and the Phillip and Jeannique Vermeulen-trained six-year-old Coup De Grace gelding Slinky Mapimpi proved there is no substitute for form and class when winning the highest rated race of the day, while earlier the Tony Peter-trained Hawwaam filly Perfect Miracle impressed on debut with an easy 6,25 lengths victory.

In the 1160m contest Slinky Mapimpi was double figure odds in the opening betting as he was returning from a four month layoff, but his form was a stand out considering he had gone close the last time he ran over course and distance, while he followed that with a third pace finish to the classy Pomodoro's Jet in the Grand Heritage over 1475m and in his last career victory, which was over 1450m at Turffontein Inside last October he had run way above his 88 rating in a Progress Plate when beating the subsequent twice Gr 1 winner Fatal Flaw and some other highly rated horses in a Progress Plate.

On Saturday he led from start to finish under Raymond Danielson and never looked in danger of defeat, converting 17/2 odds as he beat the 18/10 favourite Blizzard Snow by 0,80 lengths carrying 58.5kg off a 97 rating.

In the second race over 1160m the Tony Peter-trained Perfect Miracle was a 33/10 shot as the Drakenstein homebred What A Winter filly Quiet Winter had run two decent races and despite coming off a layoff of more than three-and-a-half months she was backed into 5/10.

However, it was one way traffic as Perfect Miracle won easing up by 6,25 lengths and Quiet Winter could only manage third place.