Racing on - PARADE MAGAZINE

RACING NEWSTEXT: ADA VAN DER BENT.third Depardieu cut out the early fractions, and nosooner had In A Rush wrested the lead from thepacesetter in midstretch, when Changingotheguardloomed large on his outer and asserted after a briefbattle entering the final furlong. King Of Pain, whohad to switch for a clear run, unleashed an explosivecharge, but his older opponent held his late thrust bya diminishing half-length to register his third and biggestvictory to date.In fact, the winner’s last score, and a super-impressiveone at that, came virtually twelve months ago inthe Listed <strong>Racing</strong> Association Stakes at Fairview, onjust his third racetrack appearance. Plagued by shinproblems, the clearly immature colt was not seen outagain following off-the-board efforts in both the PoliticianStakes and the Investec Cape Derby in January.On his return to action last month, he immediatelyimpressed with a creditable second behind highlyregardedLake Arthur over the Kenilworth 1400m.DIANA STAKES (Gr 3)Rank outsider Super Elegant, whose form has beenuninspiring of late, got her career back on track whenshe came out on top in a rousing finish to this Gr.3event.Favourite Valdivia was quick into stride and took themalong at a decent clip, maintaining her advantage untiljoined by Ocean’s Swift in the straight. Approachingthe final furlong, Super Elegant and Comtesse Duboissimultaneously unleashed their challenges up thecentre and the pair came sweeping into the lead approachingthe final 100m. In a driving finish, they hadthe race to themselves, hurtling towards the winningpost as one and it was a final lunge from Super Elegantwhich clinched the victory when she thrust her headin front on the line. The runner-up, who was biddingto provide the Justin Snaith table with a fourth consecutiveDiana victory, lost nothing in defeat, havinggiven her all in her very first attempt beyond 1200m.This is not the first time the Piet Steyn-trained winnerhas caused a major surprise at long odds, upstagingmuch-vaunted Beach Beauty in last season’s Gr.3Victress Stakes. Super Elegant has failed to run tothat form in nine subsequent starts, the best of whichwhen a two-length fourth behind Thunder Dance inthe Gr.1 Paddock Stakes.Now a four-time winner who also reached the framein the Gr.3 Champagne Stakes and Listed SophomoreSprint at three, she has increased her earnings toR372,380, not bad going for a filly who was snappedup for a bargain R30,000 at the 2010 Equimark VintageSale!YELLOWWOOD HANDICAP (Gr 3)Unheralded Enchanted Kingdom shocked her rivalsat odds of 35-1 with a late charge which landed her acareer-best black-type victory.As is custom, confirmed frontrunner Without Malicesettled at the head of affairs, with Magic Smoke andUp Front next best. The Jet Master mare turned forhome with plenty left in the tank and maintained herrelentless gallop up the straight. While the more fanciedrunners failing to quicken, it was the Paul Petertrainedoutsider who emerged from the pack and setout after the leader. Without Malice kept on resolutelybut a hefty 8kg weight difference probably told inthe end and she was collared by her rival in the finalstrides to the post.To suggest that the winner caused a major surprisewould be an understatement, turning around an uninspiringrecent formline which has seen her finishno better than fourth in her last ten starts. Nevertheless,she has added that all-important black-type toher resume and has rewarded her connections withcareer earnings of R307,100, a handsome return onthe R95,000 she cost as a two-year-old.PEERMONT EMPEROR’S PALACECHARITY MILE (Gr 2)Sheikh Hamdan’s homebred Mujaarib served noticethat he’s ready to make some noise at the highest levelthis season when he turned in a spectacular stretchrun to crack his first stakes victory.Making his debut in stakes class on just his fourthracetrack appearance, the near-black colt passed thetest with flying colours and remains unbeaten.As they turned into the straight, The Mouseketeerwas first to challenge, but ran out of gas at the quartermark, leaving the way clear for Whiteline Fever24 Parade CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALES EDITION