It was sweet justice for log leading jockey Robbie Burke when he bounced back from a suspension for not having ridden Fingal’s Cave to the satisfaction of the Racing Stewards three weeks ago, to win Saturday’s feature event – with the same horse! In so doing the Irishman probably vindicated the action against him. But with eight wins to spare over his closest rivals Cédric Ségéon and Gaëtan Faucon, he isn’t too concerned about such trivialities at this stage of the game.
South African riders Johnny Geroudis and Richard Fourie maintained their rich vein of form with a winner apiece while Rye Joorawon won a race for the Serge Henry stable. Vincent Allet’s new stable jockey, Imran Chisty, did not take long to break the ice at the Champ de mars, while Yashin Emamdee and apprentice Jeannot Bardottier had a winner each.
No Strike
With the late withdrawal of Stunning Do, only eight runners were left to contest the feature race but this did not detract from the quality of the contest. Silent Screen showed tremendous pace to lead early with the pacy Bright Stone on the outside. Modern Monet, Flaming Light and the facied Strike Again followed further back. At the beginning of the back straight, Firebolt, who had been pulling hard, came forward to race with the pace and eventually hit the front at the 600 metres mark. In the final straight, Firebolt hung in under pressure and Silent Screen hung out and this movement forced Modern Monet to check badly. At the same time, Flaminglight was making his run on the inside rail. Strike Again stayed on one paced, whereas Fingal’s Cave produced a nice turn of foot under pressure. He hit the front easily but in doing so, hung in badly. Fingal’s Cave kept going well to win easily from Flaminglight and Pick Six. The latter came from last to finish a very good third and this may well single a return to his best form.
Imran Can
Robbie Burke won the first leg of his double on the favorite, Silbato, in the second race. The former Joey Ramsden trained Silbato showed good early pace to hold a dream position throughout and just off the pacemakers. He proved to be the stronger finisher in the last 100 metres to win easily from Happy Hal and Umhlanga. The Indian rider, Imran Chisty, showed that trainer Vincent Allet had been spot on in securing his services, when winning with the outsider, Mac Mufti. The latter travelled just behind the pacemaker, Running On throughout and proved to be full of courage in the home straight, to hold on and win by a head.
Johnny Geroudis had a couple of very good rides on Saturday but was only able to convert one of them into a winner, when he won the fourth race with the well supported, Sergeant Major. The former Wendy Whitehead horse ran on nicely in the final straight to win a good race from Spy In The Sky. Geroudis was less fortunate on losing favorites, Waterside Jet and Pieces Of Eight. Richard Fourie continued his winning trend with the hot favorite Kenny Tee in the seventh race. He made every post a winning one to beat the supported Indigo Blue, who should be watched next time.
Full Of Heart
Three Mauritian jockeys were also in the winner’s limelight. Rye Joorawon proved that his decision to ride Palm Of Peace rather than Cactus Wolf and Winters Edge, was the right one. He won in a tight finish after traveling in midfield throughout, with Vinay Naiko chasing him home on Cactus Wolf. Yashin Emamdee had to wait until the last race of the day to win on the outsider, From My Heart. The former Dean Kannemeyer horse travelled in midfield throughout and made his move at the 600 metres mark to hit the front. He kept going well to win easily from Waterside Jet Young Apprentice Jeannot Bardottier returned from an eight week suspension and showed character and fighting courage to bounce back with a good winner. He came through from the midfield to win the fourth race on outsider, Major Storm. A luckless Corne Orffer had to be content with second spot on Constellation, in what proved to be a quiet afternoon for the South African.
Ducking And Diving?
We have heard of jockeys driving trainers around the bend and vice versa, but how about the trainer that chased a jockey around the swimming pool? Reliable sources report that Jockey Aaron Spiteri, who was fired recently by the Vincent Allet stable, had to dive – well almost – for cover, prior to his departure from the island last week. Word has it that trainer Vincent Allet, who has employed Indian jockey Imran Chisty to replace Spiteri, went to meet him at his bungalow and landed up chasing the hapless Spiteri around the swimming pool. The incident has been reported to the police and also to Chief Stipendiary Steward Ian Patterson. This led to Spiteri’s departure from Mauritius being delayed until Wednesday. Apparently the jockey was advised not to lodge any formal complaint and to rather leave the island. An angry Aaron Spiteri has promised that he will meet the media on his arrival in Australia and tell the whole story. Talk about ducking and diving or was he in too deep? You read it first in the Sporting Post!
THIS SATURDAY IN MAURITIUS
The Grade 3 Tote Lepep-MTC 175th Anniversary Cup to be run over 2050m is the feature event this weekend in Mauritius. Six quality horses have been entered with recent Maiden Cup winner Captain’s Knock heading the list.
Cape based trainer Joey Ramsden always rated Captain’s Knock during his early career and the good looking fellow has certainly lived up to his promise and his wily former trainer’s high opinion. A winner of our most prestigious race three weeks ago, Captain’s Knock is in very good shape and track-side reports are that he has been working very well. But his task is not an easy one and he will have a heavy burden on his back with both Senor Versace and Solar Symbol from the Gujadhur stable, out for revenge. If Seattle Ice stays the distance, he could also come into the big race picture. .
Senor Versace finished second in the ‘Phoenix Maiden Cup’ and was an unlucky loser of that race. His jockey Gaëtan Faucon reported that the grey gelding did not have things all his own way and particularly the slow pace set by his stable companion Solar Symbol had not suited him at all. He made up lot of ground to finish a good second on that day. He is holding form well and has also impressed at track work. Depending on whether there is a steady pace throughout here, he could well open his long overdue island account.
Solar Symbol was not disgraced in his last start when he finished third close to Captain’s Knock and Senor Versace. He is a strong galloping front-runner and he could prove difficult to peg back should he set his own pace without being put under pressure. Seattle Ice is yet to run to his excellent South African form here. He has finished in the money in his last four starts and tries the 2050 metres for the first time in his career. His trainer is confident that he will stay the distance. He has also shown good improvement at track since his last start and looks very well and fit. He could upset this field.
Teamog ran well below expectations in ‘The Maiden Cup’, where he finished unplaced. The Maigrot charge is in good shape and with a lightweight to carry here, his winning chances over a distance that should suit him far better, is very good. He is a consistent sort and seldom runs a bad race. He has been kept fresh since his last race. A tough puzzle for punters, but we feel that Captain’s Knock will be the top scorer!
Runners: Autumn Frost, Captain’s Knock, Seattle Ice, Senor Versace, Solar Symbol and Teamog.
