Honeybell Orange wins the Kenya Saint Leger at Ngong
Can we now rename it the Quadruple Crown? Honeybell Orange, owned by Lady Spencer, has completed the Fillies Guineas, Oaks, Derby and Kenya Saint Leger, in less than five months.
It doesn't get much better than that. Not even a forklift truck was going to push Bampton into the stalls, so our final 2,800m Classic went ahead with Cranleigh, Scott and Honeybell - all three eager beavers.
Scott was in complete control of Charles Kimani for a good couple of furlongs, but then faded with understandable fatigue as Cranleigh tinkered briefly at the front.
Meanwhile, Lesley Sercombe tapped into Honeybell's enormous competence and they winged it to the wire by eight lengths. Molto molto bravo to all the staff. Doctor Patsy Sercombe embroidered four more regular winners Westwind returned to a former sunny disposition in the Aga Khan Diamond Jubilee. Cheekbands kept his eye on the ball.
The best race of the afternoon saw Satyan elbow out Chadwick by a stubble. He clipped the Limuru Gymkhana Cup for Bindya Devani and a host of owners. It's a Date was jaywalking from here to there, otherwise, she would definitely have been triumphant - just a neck away.
Ngong results
1.30 - First Race - The Jill Harley Memorial Trophy (1,200m)
1. Dunleavy (Charles Kimani) Westonian-Chinook
2. Marlow (Paul Kiarie)
3. Eton Star (Lesley Sercombe)
4. Ten Eight (James Muhindi)
Distance: 9/10/5.5. Time 1:14:9/10 secs. Favourite: Marlow 4-6. Runners: 4
Owned by Anna Bhaloo, Mim and Trevor Haynes. Trainer Doctor Patsy Sercombe
2.05 pm - Second Race - The Clontarf Handicap (1,400m)
1. Daytime Girl (Lesley Sercombe)
2. Wimbourne (Ramazan Wako)
3. Grand Surabi (Patrick Mungai)
Distance: 2.75/2.5/17. Time: 1:28:3/10 secs. Favourite: Winner 4-7. Runners: 4
Owned by Lady Spencer. Trainer Doctor Patsy Sercombe
2.40 pm - Third Race - Clancy Handicap (1,400m)
1. Chipping (James Muhindi)
2. Bling (Paul Kiarie)
3. Go Pro (henry Muya)
Distance: 8/5.4/1. Time: 1:42:4/10 secs. Favourite: Nothing specific. Runners: 5
Owned and trained by Joe Muya
3.15 pm - Fourth Race - The Aga Khan Diamond Jublee Trophy (2,060m)
1. Westwind (Lesley Sercombe) Westonian-Chinook
2. All over Again (Ramazan Wako)
3. Karowe (Paul Kiarie)
Distance: 2.75/11. Time: 2:15:9/10 secs. Favourite: Winner 4-9. Runners: 3
Owned by Mim Haynes and Anna Bhaoo. Trainer Doctor Patsy Sercombe
3.50 pm - Fifth Race - The Kenya Saint Leger Royal Artillery Cup (2,800m)
1. Honeybell Orange (Lesley Sercombe) Duke of Marmalade-Kissimmee
2. Cranleigh (Henry Muya)
3. Scott (Charles Kimani)
Bampton refused to take part. Beautiful horse, but she doesn't like the stalls
Distance: 0.75/2.75/4.75/19. Time: 3:15:00 secs. Favourite: 4-20. Runners: 4
Owned by Lady Spencer. Trainer Patsy Sercombe
4.25 pm - Sixth Race - The Limuru Gymkhana Cup (1,600m)
1. Satyan (James Muhindi)
2. Chadwick (Paul Kiarie)
3. It's a Date (Charles Kimani)
Coffee Break not used to our stalls, totally said no
Distance: short-head/neck. Time: 1:40:6/10 secs. Favourite: Winner 7-4.. Runners: 4
Owned by Y. Patel, Damon Ansell, R. Shariff, and, S. Patel. Trainer Bindya Devani
Next meeting June 18 - for the Thomas Dewar Cup, Nakuru Champion Stakes, Gooch Cup, and, Paddy Migdoll Tea Urn