Quickstepgal does it for Prinsloo

THE small yard of Tienie Prinsloo triumphed in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Guineas with Vercingetorix filly Quickstepgal and it was a triumph too for the Wernars family and Harry Willson, who made the astute decision to buy her in training with the help of bloodstock agent Justin Vermaak.

- DAVID THISELTON

Lerena

Jockey Gavin Lerena's strategy played a big part in the victory.

He said, "I always had it in mind to go to the front, but then I was hearing there were a couple of pacemakers in. I was quite happy to go forward to be in behind the pacemakers, but they didn't come, so I was pretty happy to alone in the lead. She has got such a good action it would have been detrimental to have her in behind a slow pace and not using her action. As long as she was using her stride I was happy, whether it was in behind a fast pace or the pace I was at. She was very sensible in front, her ears came up very soon. She was just freewheeling, she enjoyed it, she absolutely cruised around the course. From halfway around the turn I thought it was going to take a good one to beat me. She had cruised around so easily that I wanted the others to come off the bit early so I gave her a squeeze at the top of the straight. She lengthened beautifully and I felt I still had a lot of horse in hand, so if they were going to come at me, she was going to give me another kick."

Lerena said Stormwatch had begun challenging, but he kept his mount in the hands until the 300m and then squeezed her again. He said she responded superbly.