“There was very little between the two but sadly a jockey has to choose,” were the consoling words from Mike de Kock for stable first call rider Anthony Delpech after stable elect Shaama came up empty in the Gr 1 Allan Roberts Championship. The chips fell the way of stable companion Entisaar and veteran Johnny Geroudis took full toll as the Australian-bred daughter of More The Read slipped through a gap up the inside to put the race to bed in a matter of strides, winning by a length from Princess Royal and outsider Madame Dubois.

With Speedy Suzie setting quick early fractions the field stretched out a little which gave all plenty of galloping room as the field drifted towards the inside fence. 18-10 favourite Shaama was in the firing line as the field entered the dip and headed up the hill, but when asked for an effort the tank was empty.

But for Geroudis the race panned out in his favour. “I was always travelling well. At the 200 I got a little gap between myself and Anton (Royal Pleasure) and she quickened away nicely.”

“She was baulked a little and that suited her well,” said De Kock who intimated that we had seen the last of the winner in this country.

Entisaar drifted alarmingly in the ante-post market from 7-2 to 7-1. “Before the race I would have told you that there was very little between the two but Shaama wants a ‘mile’ and that was probably the difference,” surmised De Kock.

The meeting played out in front of a large crowd in what has always been one of the big social attractions on the Capital’s calendar.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Entisaar (Nkosi Hlophe)