Chris Puller takes it easy as Reim draws off to win the Gr3 Matchem Stakes (Bay Media)
Trainer Glen Puller won the R250 000 Kuda Gr3 Matchem Stakes for the fourth time since the start of the 21st century when his son Chris steered the vastly improved Ashaawes gelding Reim to an easy end-to-end win in the 1400m contest at Durbanville on Saturday. The winner was a timeous boost for CTS as he is a 2012 Cape RTR Sale graduate.
How’s that for sweet timing? Just three hours prior to the start of the 2014 CTS Lanzerac RTR Sale and at the same venue, a top-class well bought past graduate scores his biggest career success.
A true-blue Puller family affair saw the 4yo Reim rocketing out of the gates and running right away from the chasing bunch in a quality field that included star 2yo of last season, Afrikaburn.
And today Reim did the trick on weight-for-age terms and without the aid of a roaring tailwind!
The Matchem win was Reim’s third straight success and the recipe of a drop in distance, the fitment of blinkers and Chris Puller appears to have been the Salusa 45 solution for the Ashaawes gelding.
And for a man who has never been one for running up unnecessary mileage, it was also a sweet victory for young Chris Puller, whose only ride it was for the day.
The race was run perfectly to Puller plan as Reim brought them for home from Door Of Deception and Chestnut’s Rocket, with Top Jet further back.
Afrikaburn was not settled early and battled to get in. He ran wide, with some eight lengths to make up in the home run. He got a few early cracks from Schlechter and the champion 2yo colt of last term ran a pleasing race as he charged home late from what was a hopeless position in the straight.
The Cape Guineas remains his mission, and trainer Dean Kannemeyer declared himself pleased with the effort.
But in the end it was all Reim and he strode away and won by two lengths in a time of 84,13 secs.
Top Jet ran on best to shade the disappointing Chestnut’s Rocket into fourth.
Reim was bred by Geoff Armitage from Ashaawes out of Place Morny (CHI) (bythe American-bred Doneraile Court).
The recent improvement certainly shows in his stats. He has now won 4 races with 2 places from his 15 starts and took his earnings to R334 900.
While the Durbanville 1200m/ 1400m course looks Reim’s ace game, watch him down the Kenilworth straight in the coming months.
There may yet be a few more pleasant surprises in store!
