The Chinese New Year is upon us and we have been spoilt in terms of quality racing. The main event next Tuesday is the Fortune Bowl and Pat Shaw has a very strong hand. With 6 of the 12 entries, I would be very surprised if he did not take out the 2016 renewal, writes Gareth Pepper.
His stalwarts Quechua and Cooptado will carry top weight but it is up and coming stayer Perfect P, recent winner of the New Year Cup, that will be my first choice.
He is a lovely stayer in the making and his trackwork has been scintillating. Pat’s Time Odyssey won again last week and his season has gotten off to a flying start. The son of Jet Master was given a really solid push by Aussie jock Corey Brown and he is most definitely one who will compete at the highest level in the months to come.
I watched the Met day racing with great interest.
Congratulations to Jessica Slack and her Mauritzfontein operation. What a filly and what a performance. Kudos to farm manager Guy Murdoch. He is another true gentleman of the game and to see the pure elation on his face was just fantastic.
Of course Alec Laird has tasted Met success before, and I am so glad to read she will be heading to the Breeders Cup meeting in November. Alec’s success overseas is well documented and I hope she can keep his fantastic overseas record intact.
My highlight of the day was Gulf Storm winning the Cape Flying.
Corne Orffer
As I alluded to last week, the Crawford yard and my good friend Corne Orffer always get the sentimental vote from me. I am so happy Corne has won his maiden Group 1 and I truly hope the flood-gates now open for him at the highest level.
To owners Lance and Delma Sherrell, congratulations. Not only did he do you proud, but I thought Captain America showed he is one of the better older horses around with a gallant 3rd in the Met!
I need to also commend one of my dearest friends Paul Lafferty on a remarkable effort with Harry’s Son.
He did so well after the arduous journey to get to Dubai and I am sure he will continue to make us all proud! Talking about proud, Mike De Kock is flying the flag , as usual, and his horses are in hot form at the moment both locally and abroad.
All in all, our horses again show they can compete on the world’s stage and I am proudly South African!
Till next time.
