By Mark van Deventer
TENANGO romped in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 3) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, coming from midfield to trounce his opposition in some style. The well-performed, 4YO is a son of Canford Cliffs out of the Trippi mare, Tripadvisor.
Winning trainer Candice Bass-Robinson said, “We always thought a lot of him, then he went in the wind. But since the op, he has really been a revelation.”
Those medical interventions are not guaranteed of course, yet in TENANGO’s case have provided him with a new lease on life as a fleet footed, sprinter. He has now won four times, in increasingly challenging races, since his wind has been fixed, prompting an impressed jockey Andrew Fortune to proclaim, “he is up to winning at Gr 2 level.”
Bass Racing indicated that TENANGO will next be trucked up to Hollywoodbets Scottsville to have a go at prestigious sprints in KZN and build on his career record of five scores from 13 starts.
Fortune, reckons that, rather than race him handy, TENANGO is better when switched off. He employed those more patient tactics as SEEKING THE STARS, LION RAMPART, ALL OUT FOR SIX, DANCE VARIETY and CAPTAIN WEST raced in the vanguard, before showing such sudden acceleration that it was basically race over going through the 300m.
The final time for the 1200m contest was 70.82 seconds, which included flashy 45.08 (800m – finish) and 22.8 second, come-home sectionals by the two-length victor.
TENANGO, one of the primary market fancies, arrived at a starting price of 28/10.
The classy 3YO and race favourite, ALL OUT FOR SIX – ‘not a six-furlong horse,” according to jockey, Richard Fourie, kept on for third place after sustaining an even gallop throughout, and is one to follow in races from 1400m +.
33/1 shot, SILVER FALCON rounded out the Champagne Stakes Quartet, 3.25 lengths off the winner.
