Anger stamps his authority on the Betting World Sprint at Flamingo Park (JC Photos)
Imports swept the boards in Saturday’s Flamingo Park triple feature. And none was more impressive than Corne Spies’ Brazillian-bred 4yo Anger who made a procession of the R135 000 Betting World Sprint run over the straight 1000m.
Spies has done wonders with this enigmatically talented import who has talent in as much abundance as he has mind issues.
The Elusive Quality colt won on debut at the Vaal in July 2013 but a blank spell followed for close on a year.
Trainer Corne Spies labelled Anger ‘extremely temperamental’.
“After that first win, he just chose to refuse to run. Or he would be in front and would just throw in the towel when challenged. It is not really about an aversion to the starting stalls or anything. He flipped over backwards at his second start. He hasn’t been an easy fellow to train!”
We asked Corne why they hadn’t resorted to gelding him.
“That is not so simple! He is owned by two breeders and is extremely well bred. He is by Elusive Quality and boasts a champion female line. We did remove one testicle as we thought he was pulling it up in races and creating discomfort. That was a few runs back and he has won his last four. So it may have worked!” he laughed.
Trainer Corne Spies has done wonders with Anger
Where to now with Anger?
“He is extremely fast but is built like a miler. I have been wary to try him over further and around the turn in view of his issues. But I feel that he will go further and there is no reason why he shouldn’t run as well on turf. In the short term, it would be nice to aim for a race like the Emerald Cup, if we can get him into that. But with him it is always one day at a time!” he said.
Punters obviously believe that Anger has turned the corner and installed him a 2 to 1 favourite on Saturday.
After recent maiden winner Rousseau tried to pace it with him early, Fanie Chambers squeezed Anger and the colt asserted himself. It was race over a long way out.
Anger strode clear and won by 2,75 lengths in a time of 56,44 secs,
The longshot Wolf In Winter came out of the pack to chase him home, with the 9yo Gauteng-based Commissionerstreet, not far behind in third.
The pacy Rousseau faded late but held fourth to at least pay his way.
Anger was bred in Brazil by Stud TNT (Nom: Mr G B Torrealba).
He is a son of Elusive Quality out of the Thunder Gulch mare, Garota Do Leblon.
He has won all three starts in Kimberley and has won his last four races on the trot.
He registered his fifth win with one place from 12 starts for R277 750 in stakes.
Stick with Anger – but you have been warned!
