On June 4, history was made under another glorious warm, sun-soaked Sunday afternoon at Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi, as a fashionable and animated crowd of over a thousand witnessed Honeybell Orange extend her unbeaten record to ten races to win the Kenya St Leger event.
The win saw Honeybell Orange become the first horse in ten years to win four classic races in a season.
Although there are still three more races to go this season, Honeybell Orange has been crowned the undisputed queen of the 2022/23 season.
The throne is hers and her reign impregnable with this latest triumph, ruling the ancient and hallowed grounds with the sceptre of a true champion. Winning by eight lengths from second-placed Cranleigh, owned by J Muya, Honeybell Orange has now proved that, at the moment, she cannot be beaten, no matter the cause.
Lady Spencer, who owns Honeybell Orange, was full of praise for her prize mount. Speaking from London, UK, where she watched the race, she said: “We never imagined that our beautiful filly would beat all the colts, the older horses and others on the racetrack. She is one incredibly special horse. She has given us so much enjoyment and now she deserves, at the end of this season, to come home to Sirai Stud where we will always treasure her.”
Winning jockey Lesley Secombe said Honeybell Orange is “the sweetest natured of them all, and she’s the filly of a lifetime. I couldn’t ask for more.”
In a scene that now mimics the beau monde of international racing, throngs of the faithful and the vogue doused in merriment, enjoyed a splendid day of competition and rivalry with all but one favourite claiming their garland.
The only upset came with the first race of the day, and the only sprint, the 1200m Jill Harley Memorial Trophy where Dunleavy, ridden by C Kimani, stupefied the pundits by trouncing pre-race favourite Marlow by nine lengths.
The second race of the day, the Clontarf Handicap was a closely-fought affair with Daytime Girl winning by 2¾ lengths from Wimborne in a fast-paced 1400m.
The 1600m Clancy Cup, a solid middle-distance fixture, saw Rahal, ridden by M Fundi, do what many have been hoping and expecting him to do across the entire season, winning comfortably by 8 lengths, hopefully shaking the hoodoo that has clouded his potential.
The fourth race, the first of the long-distance for the day, was the 2060m Aga Khan Diamond Jubilee where Westwind enjoyed an unhurried scamper to take the line 2¾ lengths ahead of stablemate, All Over Again.
The Limuru Gymkhana Cup was the closest race of the day with Satyan, ridden by J Muhindi, winning in a photo finish by a short head from Chadwick to the screams and cheers of an enthusiastic and boisterous congregation.
As an avid racing connoisseur who not only owns horses but attends races all over the globe, Lord Spencer, said: “It seems that the event and festivities are becoming very important for most racegoers worldwide."
"In Kenya, there has been a rapid change seen at Ngong Racecourse, from a quiet scene to a vibrant, busy and fashionable event. There were big crowds this Sunday. It seems like racing is the place to be. I’m looking forward to the future of racing in Kenya.”
