“It’s been a rough week for South African horseracing. This is one for the small man in the game.”
The words of giantkilling Milnerton trainer Bill Prestage after his gutsy 6yo Milton had lowered the colours of the unbeaten Last Winter to win the R400 000 Gr2 Premier Trophy in one of the most exciting finishes of a windswept afternoon at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Gavin Lerena keeps Milton going to hold off the low-flying Last Winter (Anthony Delpech) in a thriller (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
In a race that included six Sun Met entries, Dean Kannemeyer’s undefeated 4yo Last Winter was sent out a warm fancy to show his well-being and readiness for the big one at the end of January.
But as Mr Prestage alluded to, racing is not always a great writer of fairytales – and punters watched in dismay as the unfancied chestnut kept up a relentless gallop into the wind under a sweetly judged ride from Gavin Lerena, to gain the narrowest of victories.
Gavin Lerena looks relieved and pleased as he returns to the unsaddling enclosure(Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
While obviously disappointed that the photo had gone against him, Last Winter’s trainer Dean Kannemeyer said that he was pleased with the way his charge has acquitted himself and hoped that he had done enough to gain a berth in the Met.
“This was only his fifth start and there were some hard-knockers in the race. He is still learning to race and it was his first time on a left-handed track. There was quite a strong headwind at play so Anthony (Delpech) didn’t want to let him roll too early. He could also feel that Last Winter was giving him a full effort so rather than risk unbalancing him, he sent him once the leader was already a good few lengths in credit and rode him with the hands. It was bloody close in the end!” said Kannemeyer, who confirmed that it was possible that his charge would go straight into the Sun Met.
“We will see how he pulls up and once the dust settles we can make a decision. I’d like to believe he will get into the Met and he can only come on with the benefit of the experience,” he confirmed.
Milton, who had led for most of the journey, picked up his biggest career win to date by a short head in a time of 111,96 secs.
Winning combo Bill Prestage and Gavin Lerena (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Krambambuli ran on best of the balance of the Met candidates, finishing a 3,30 length third in a blanket tussle for the place cheques.
The enigmatic Black Arthur (3,55 lengths) failed to quicken, running fifth, while Horizon (4,55 lengths) also ran a flat race.
Dual Algoa Cup winner Nebula was 0,65 lengths behind Horizon, with topweight Deo Juvente, racing under new ownership, trailing in 18,15 lengths back.
Winning trainer Bill Prestage confirmed on enquiry from Tellytrack interviewer Stan Elley that Milton would not go for the Met.
“No, he wont go for the Met. But if they want to swap the runner-up, then I will swap,” he laughed, sportingly underscoring his belief that the Kannemeyer galloper was an unlucky loser.
The Maine Chance bred Milton is a son of the recently deceased Lateral (Singspiel) out of the four-time winning Missing No More (Unaccounted For).
A R160 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2 purchase, Milton has won 8 races with 19 places from 35 starts for stakes of R968 900.
He is a pleasure to own – always thereabouts and often earning.
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Gr2 Premier Trophy (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 16, R400k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.51.96
1 – MILTON (SAF), 58.0, ch g 6, Lateral (GB) – Missing No More (USA) by Unaccounted For . Owner Mr & Mrs W G Prestage; Breeder Maine Chance; trainer WG Prestage; jockey G Lerena
2 – Last Winter (SAF), 57.5, b c 4, Western Winter (USA) – Field Flower (SAF) by Silvano (GER)
3 – Krambambuli (SAF), 59.0, ch g 6, Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Sailing To Rio (AUS) by Woodman (USA)
Margins: 0.05, 3.25, 0.05
