The dismal failure of the fancied Gr1 Mercury Sprint candidate Dutch Philip opened the door for the talented Querari gelding Procal Harum to win the R130 000 eThekwini Sprint run on the Greyville polytrack on July day.
Muzi Yeni gets Procal Harum to the front as La Bella Mia (Craig Zackey) chases hard (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
The talented Cape visitor Dutch Philip was having his first run on the surface and under the lights, but was well weighted and expected to assert his class. After jumping with his field, he never overcame his wide draw and simply went through the motions, making some ground late to finish 6 lengths off the winner.
But the race belonged to Duncan Howells and his staunch owner Dave Mclean, who waited all afternoon to finally get into the number 1 box.
With Muzi Yeni determined to take home one trophy on the day, the gelding was backed from 9’s to 5-1 and shook off the late threat of game Joburg visitor La Bella Mia to win readily by 0,75 lengths in a time of 68.7 secs.
Muzi Yeni – waited all day
A difficult fellow, according to trainer Duncan Howells, the fitment of a tongue tie and blinkers made all the difference. Warren Lenferna did the honours in the absence of the winning owner Dave Maclean.
Woljayrine caught the eye storming home late for third, with the Azzie’s Down To Zero failing to capitalise on his 1 draw and finishing fourth.
A R450 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, the winner was bred by Narrow Creek Stud and is a son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the one-time winner Fair Enough (Model Man).
A winner of 3 races with 3 places from 10 starts, Procal Harum has earned R239 775.
