Lovely National Emblem filly resumes winning ways

After a good long break, KIMIGAIO (National Emblem – Sapphire Symphony) came back with a bang to record her second win in Yoshiko Allan’s colours at Durbanville this afternoon.  Grant Knowles, the TV presenter, remarked that it was good to see the wife’s colours instead of the husband’s and the husband commented that his good ones all run for STRAIGHT BAT RACING!

The 4 year old filly has had some respiratory and other niggly problems but is now a winner of 2 races and placed 5 times in 9 runs total.  This afternoon over the minimum trip of 1,000 metres, KIMIGAIO battled hard with the favourite CRESSIDA in the final 100 metres, once headed but getting back up to win by a short head in the excellent hands of M J Byleveld.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall remains on fire at the moment winning two Gr.3 2 year old races and a decent handicap in a treble last week and now bringing back KIMIGAIO after a long break fit and ready to win.

This is a big but elegant dark chestnut filly, weighing 500 kg, is destined to be part of the Allan broodmare band.  After a set-back a few months ago, she spent time at Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud in a programme set out by Marshall who welcomed her back in great shape and took it from there.

KIMIGAIO runs well fresh and will be given a chance to regroup before going back out to compete again.