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8.
Australian-bred
Wins Grade 2 Stakes at Del Mar
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02/09/2002 |
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Former
South African champion gelding Delta Form won his second stakes race in America
when he captured the 1 3/8 mile Del Mar Handicap (G2) on Sunday. The
Australian-bred son of Widden Stud’s former champion stallion out of the grand
Imperial Prince racemare Arborea may have earned a shot at the US$4 million
Japan Cup at Nakayama Racecourse on November 24.
Delta Form completed the 1 3/8 mile on the turf at Del Mar in a course and
stakes record time of 2:12. The 6yo gelding defeated The Tin Man
(Affirmed-Lizzie Rolfe by Tom Rolfe) by a neck with Blue Steller (Ire)
(Barathea--Banque Privee, by Private Account) a length back in third place.
Winning jockey Goncalino Almeida said, “I rode this horse with a lot of
confidence today because of Jenine (trainer Jenine Sahadi). I worked him for her
and she just said to me: ‘You know this horse; you ride him.’ When a trainer
says that to you, your confidence goes way up. You can ride your race and not
have to worry about a lot of instructions. I only hit this horse once today. He
was giving me his best. But the secret – the little secret to it all – is to
have that confidence. If you have that, you can do many things. I’m happy for
Jenine. She trusts me and I’m glad she got rewarded for it.”
Delta Form was purchased by Delta Bloodstock of South Africa for $85,000 at the
1998 William Inglis Easter yearling sale. He is a son of the former champion 3yo
mare Arborea, the Clarry Connors trained filly that in the spring of 1993 won
the VATC One Thousand Guineas (G1), VRC Oaks (G1) and VRC Wakeful Stakes (G2).
After winning 6 of his 18 starts in South Africa Delta Form was sold to further
his career in the U.S, where he races for the high profile Team Valor syndicate
and Gary Barber. Delta Form’s record now stands at 8 wins, 2 seconds and 4
thirds from 23 starts for earnings of $404,217.
The winning trainer Jenine Sahadi was ecstatic at registering her first stakes
win at the Del Mar meet. "I was a little disappointed [in his last race],
but the horse has been training so well down here. I know this horse has a lot
of talent, and he was working so well, I was a little bit worried. This horse is
not crazy about switching leads. Mike Smith told me that if he switches leads on
the backside he won't switch on the front side and vice versa, and I was worried
about the tight turns, but Gary [co-owner Gary Barber] was adamant about running
here and he had a lot of faith in this horse. Goncalino breezed this horse the
best he's ever breezed and he switched leads on cue and that was a little
strange because he hasn't done that before. So Gonzo did a great job, and I'm
happy for everybody involved. We needed this."
By: Mark Smith
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