Veteran trainer Joey Soma pulled an ace out of the pack when stepping the lightly tried Lobo’s Legend up to the 1800m in Saturday’s R2 million Gr1 SA Classic.
Muzi Yeni steers Lobo’s Legend to a smart win (Pic – JC Photos)
Muzi Yeni did the rest to bring the unfancied runner home to cause an upset in a race marred by an accident involving SA champion jockey Anthony Delpech.
There was drama at the start when Delpech’s ride Majestic Mambo had his shoes attended to and the bad luck carried through to the race. The Paul Peter-trained colt was stone last turning for home and had nowhere to go when climbing all over those in front of him. Ironically his connections had decided that he tactically needed to take his chances outside of horses. He appeared to clip the heels of Greek Fire and dislodged his rider, who lay motionless on the turf for some time in advance of the ambulance’s arrival.
Delpech was found to be concussed and was admitted to the Milpark Hospital overnight for observation.
The race was run at a decent gallop with Alshibaa stretching the field.
Muzi Yeni had Lobo’s Legend in sixth as they came for home and he made his move from behind the looming Surcharge at the 500m.
The in-form Yeni produced Lobo’s Legend at the 400m with a superb effort and the son of Trippi ran all the way to the wire to beat the consistent Surcharge by 1,50 lengths in a time of 110,77 secs.
Joey Soma – shrewd move
Piere Strydom did an outstanding job to overcome the 13 draw on Surcharge and the son of Gimmethegreenlight ran a cracker in second.
Like A Panther was first of the De Kock quartet home. He was a further 0,30 lengths back, with his stablemate Noble Secret also running a game race a short head back in fourth.
KZN raider Roy Had Enough had nothing to come late and ran a 4,10 length fifth.
A R400 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Lobo’s Legend has won 2 races with 3 places from 6 starts for stakes of R1 360 275.
Bred by Klawervlei Stud, he is a son of Trippi (End Sweep) out of the six-time winner Gone Wild (Western Winter).
Lobo’s Legend has been largely unexposed so far and he adds to the 2017/18 season 3yo puzzle.
_________
Gr1 SA Classic (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 7, R2 million, 1800m, turf, good, 1.50.77
1 – LOBO’S LEGEND (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Trippi (USA) – Gone Wild (SAF) by Western Winter (USA). Owner Messrs L M Nestadt, M A Currie, J Shill, J A Soma & J R van der Linden; Breeder Klawervlei Stud; trainer JA Soma; jockey M Yeni
2 – Surcharge (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Congestion Charge (GB) by Diktat (ANY)
3 – Like A Panther (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Captain Al (SAF) – Della Scala (SAF) by Galileo (IRE)
Margins: 1.50, 0.30, 0.10
