The Specialist, Tin Pan Alley Impress At The Vaal!
Moutonshoek’s exciting stallion The United States provided the Sean Tarry stable with a notable double on Thursday. His sons, The Specialist and Tin Pan Alley, won good races at the Vaal.
The Specialist, who had shown so much promise at two, made a big impression when he stormed home to land Thursday’s Classic Day 7 March 96 Handicap (1200m). Under Keagan De Melo, who also steered Tin Pan Alley to victory. The four-year-old unleashed a fine turn of foot to come from the back of the field to win going away by a long neck. Runner-up in the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes at two, The Specialist has dropped to a competitive rating, and he looks capable of building on Thursday’s win. Bred by Ascot Stud, The Specialist races for Mukund Gujadhur, the Michaels, Rikesh Sewgoolam and the Wernars Family. Thursday’s winner, who hails from the same family as G1 winners Erupt, Flying Spur, Encosta De Lago and Holy Roman Emperor, is out of Prix Yacowled winner Speciale.
Tin Pan Alley, who was racing with a tongue-tie on Thursday, stamped his ticket to the Guineas when he won Thursday’s SA Derby 4 April Pinnacle Stakes (1450m). The dual graded stakes winner showed plenty of courage when getting up close home to score by a short-head.
It was a fine performance by Tin Pan Alley, who was under sufferance for Thursday’s contest. Winner of both the G2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge and G3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes this season, the three-year-old races for the Wernars Family and Dayalan Chinsammy.
Bred by Moutonshoek, Tin Pan Alley has won three of his last four starts, and he looks on course for a good season!