Wayne Agrella steers Red Barrel to beat Gogetthesheriff in the Fairview Mile (Pic: Coastal Photos)
The 2011 R2 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup winner Red Barrel proved too strong for his seven rivals in the R100 000 Fairview Mile on Friday when he came home powerfully under topweight to win going away.
Red Barrel is in the care of Tara Laing these days after starting out his racing career with Mike De Kock and won his fifth race in the Eastern Cape in impressive fashion.
Even at the age of 6, he looks to have plenty of zest for racing and more wins to come yet.
Red Barrel had run third in the same event behind Silent Witness last year, but showed his wellbeing on Friday with a good win, when comprehensively turning the tables.
Jumping a 5 to 2 favourite, Red Barrel was five lengths off as his stablemate Mercurial Brave led an unusually prominent Gogetthesheriff with Kono further back.
Wayne Agrellla – confident ride
Mercurial Brave continued to gallop strongly at the 300m as Muzi Yeni slipped Gogetthesheriff through the inside with what looked a decisive grab.
But Wayne Agrella had been winding Red Barrel up down the outside and he rode a typically balanced finish as Red Barrel powered home to win by a half length ina time of 98,31secs.
Gogetthesheriff looks overdue to win again soon and banked a deserved second cheque while Mercurial Brave also stayed on really well and will surely be better over 400m further.
Red Barrel was bred by Ambiance Stud and is a 6yo gelded son of Right Approach out of the two-time winning Elliodor mare, Red Kaschka.
He is a R350 000 graduate of the Emperors Palace 2010 Ready To Run Sale.
He has now won 8 races with 7 places from his 21 starts. He took his stakes earnings on Friday to R1 541 725.
