Southern Ring changes tactics to win Whimsical Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Southern Ring captured Woodbine’s first graded stakes race of the season last Sunday, holding off Canadian champion female sprinter River Maid to win the $147,250 Whimsical Stakes. It was Southern Ring’s second Grade 3 stakes victory, following her win in the Ontario Fashion Stakes last season.

While Southern Ring has been effective coming off the pace, she found herself on the lead in the Whimsical under jockey Eurico Da Silva. Trainer Malcolm Pierce said the race strategy shifted once Southern Ring broke from the gate.

“Our plan was to stalk,” he said. “She just broke so sharp that Eurico didn’t want to take anything away from her. He just let her run, and she relaxed on the lead. It was good. She ran hard.”

Pierce said he would like to give the 5-year-old daughter of Speightstown time before her next start. The Grade 3, $125,000 Hendrie over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta on June 4 could be a logical next race, but Pierce said no firm plans have been made.

“I’ll discuss it with the managers and the owners, and we’ll make a plan,” he said. “We’ll discuss that and see what makes the most sense, but off of an effort like that, I’d want to give her four, five, or six weeks between races for sure.”

Pierce also said a return to turf at some point is not out of the question. Southern Ring has made four of her nine career starts on grass, with two victories.

“I’d like to get her back on the turf when it’s the right opportunity,” Pierce said. “We hadn’t looked ahead too far. We just wanted to get through [Sunday] before we made plans for the next race.”

Lermyte hopes he fits in

Jockey Jerome Lermyte got his first winner of the season in last Saturday’s sixth race, guiding Superduper Sky to victory in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race on Tapeta for trainer Mark Casse. It was only Lermyte’s second start in Canada, but the 28-year-old is hoping to make Woodbine his permanent home.

Originally from France, Lermyte moved to North America in 2015 and has ridden in Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Macau. While in North America, Lermyte has made the majority of his starts at Arlington Park and Fair Grounds.

He began working for Casse this winter, riding a pair of horses for him at Fair Grounds in March, including a second-place finish aboard Pleasant Empire in a maiden special weight event. Lermyte said it was Casse who suggested trying Woodbine.

“I’m really excited to be in Canada,” he said. “Woodbine is a beautiful track, and the racing is very good here. It’s good to have Mark with me.”

At the moment, Lermyte is only able to ride American-owned horses while his immigration paperwork gets sorted out. In the meantime, Lermyte said he has been working horses in the morning for Casse since he arrived at Woodbine two weeks ago. Lermyte will ride two horses for Casse on Saturday: the first-time starter Chica Dulce in the sixth race and Oakton in the eighth.

Lermyte said he asked friends and fellow jockeys Julien Leparoux and Florent Geroux about Woodbine before making the move.

“They are my best friends,” he said. “Florent, I grew up with him. They have both ridden here before, so it’s logical to ask them. I’m very excited to be here, and I’m hoping I can get the papers done quick enough and get going. My job is to ride in races, and that’s what I love to do. I’m just going to wait for my turn.”