END OF SEASON kept rolling to hold Saucy Savannah at bay by 0.75 lengths in the R135,000 Syringa Handicap (Listed) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.
End Of Season went through the stalls at 20-1 and was one of the contributors to the bumper Pick 6 payout of R741,639, with a portion of the pool being carried forward to next weekend.
Turning for home Louvre (20-1), trying to make every post a winning one, was a couple of lengths to the good of Demanding Lady (13-2) and Jet In The Sky (11-10 favourite). Lizzie Arden and Elodie were next, followed by End Of Season on the rail and Mina Salaam.
Deon Sampson switched five-year-old End Of Season towards the middle of the track with Tshwaro Appie electing to take Saucy Savannah (11-1) down the inside rail. Saucy Savannah looked to be going the better and swept past Louvre about 200m from the line. However, End Of Season was full steam ahead and put her nose in front 100m out, slowly edging further ahead to win by 0.75 lengths.
Louvre stayed on gallantly for third, another 3.75 lengths behind Saucy Savannah with Demanding Lady 0.75 lengths further back in fourth. Jet In The Sky faded to 10th.
It was a well-designed win by owner-trainer St John Gray and Sampson, who explained: “We had a look at the race and decided there was going to be quite a bit of pace up front. Although they’ve been winning from up there, we elected to give her a bit of a chance and it worked out well.”
It was Announce mare End Of Season’s eighth win in her 29 career starts.
