Spellbinding! Warren Kennedy steers Spellcaster to a smart win (Coastal Photos)
Trainer Gavin Smith jumped onto the tracks to briefly stop the Snaith express at Arlington on Friday in the first meeting of the new season in that region. Spellcaster came up to bite punters at any price in the R90 000 Friendly City Stakes run over 1800m.
The Justin Snaith roadshow was unstoppable last season and they were expected to deliver the good here. But they can’t win them all and the fancied runners were not disgraced in the end.
The Snaith trained Indian Hawk and Dorrie Sham’s Two Gun Kid dominated the betting in the nine horse field in this non black type event, and both were involved in the finish.
With Muzi Yeni taking the next day off to get married, he appeared in an understandable hurry to ride a few winners and he bounced Jupiter Symphony to lead early from Zezinho Campeao.
Wayne Agrella had Indian Hawk relaxed in third, just ahead of Two Gun Kid and Spellcaster.
Into the home run Jupiter Symphony kept plugging away as Zezinho Campeao became a touch one paced with Indian Hawk and Two Gun Kid launching their challenges wider out.
Inside the final 300m the race could have gone either way, but Warren Kennedy slipped Spellcaster through down the inside rail and he just stayed on best without fireworks to hold Indian Hawk and Two Gun Kid at bay.
He won by 0,75 lengths in a time of 110,12 secs and showed that his ten lengths behind Two Gun Kid last time was not his best effort.
Both Indian Hawk and Two Gun Kid should continue to earn here and are always worth including.
Spellcaster started his career at Milnerton with Mike Bass.
Four moderate runs were all that was needed to see him bundled off to continue his career in the Eastern Cape.
Spellcaster has certainly paid his way!
He is a son of Jet Master out of the eight time winning National Assembly mare Enchantress, who also raced for Mike Bass. Spellcaster has none of his dam’s blistering speed, but stays quite well.
The 6yo gelding was bred by Lammerskraal Stud and registered his seventh win from 44 starts with 15 places. He took his earnings to R392 025.
Not bad for a fellow who took eleven runs to win his first race.
