IKIGAI BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Sean Tarry Racing celebrated a double on Saturday when the team sent out both Mountain High and Ikigai to win at Turffontein.
Classy galloper Ikigai, who showed so much ability as a three-year-old, picked up his first win since December 2021, when making all to land the seventh race on Saturday.
Under a superbly judged ride from Kabelo Matsunyane, the chestnut entire showed his well-being when skating clear to claim the TAB Telebet 0861 000 822 Middle Stakes (1400m) by nearly two and a half lengths.
Ikigai was a top-class performer at three, when his victories included both the G2 Gauteng Guineas and G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes.
Bred by Klawervlei Stud, who also bred his outstanding sire Vercingetorix, the now eight-year-old Ikigai is out of the Al Mufti mare Al Shiba.
Ikigai, who was not able to attract attention as a stallion prospect, is owned by Sean Tarry Racing (Pty) Ltd.
Sean and his stable also enjoyed success with Mountain High, who was rewarded for consistency when she landed Saturday's www.tab4racing.com Maiden Plate (F and M) (1600m).
Under a confident ride from Gavin Lerena, the three-year-old daughter of Rafeef stormed home from off the pace to hit the front 200m from home.
From there, Mountain High (who had finished second in four consecutive starts prior to Saturday's win) drew away to win convincingly by two and a half lengths.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Mountain High races for Wilgerbosdrift.
Sean was quick to pay tribute to Wilgerbosdrift's Mary Slack in the post-race interview, praising Mary for all that she did and continued to do for racing.
Mountain High is out of the Master Of My Fate mare Oh Mercy Me—a twice-winning full sister to G1 winner Sentbydestiny and half sister to the G3 winning dam of this season's G1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Double Grand Slam.