After being crowned KZN Trainer Of The Year on Friday evening, Summerveld veteran Dennis Drier found his team back on track with a welcome treble at Greyville on Sunday.
After a rough patch that extended from before the end of last season, the Drier yard will be glad to put that bad phase behind them and the Sunday three-timer was a major sign of a return to better things for the powerful yard.
Sean Veale guides Perfect Air to her a hat-trick as Brave And Bold (Donovan Dillon chases (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
“I started thinking it was my fault. If I worked anywhere else, I would have been fired by now. But the boss is not like other trainers who blame jockeys. He phoned me and had a long chat to me. He said only start worrying when he does,” said the straightshooting Sean Veale, who was aboard two of the Drier winners.
While no specific details were given, it appears that the Drier string was labouring under a virus with indifferent performances in the past month. But the books look a lot healthier with the yard looking to end August with at least 4 winners.
“It’s the owners that suffer. They have to keep paying while we go through this. It’s not the first time and we are not the first yard to be hit. But let’s hope it’s over,” said Dennis Drier as he paid a compliment to the organisers of the regional racing awards function held last Friday evening. “Who needs the Elangeni?” he said.
Apprentice Luke Ferraris rode the first of the Drier winners – his eighth of the season – when the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred Silvano first-timer Hard Core won the first on debut.
Drier appeared relieved to have given Durban July owner Nic Jonsson a winner!
Sean Veale rides Driven Force out to beat Peacock Alley (Keagan De Melo) and the favourite Canadian Bolt (Anton Marcus) in a thriller (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
Veale won the second on the Sail From Seattle gelding Driven Force, who improved on his debut fourth when staying on well over the 1400m in a tight finish.
He is raced by Mauritian owners and looks decent.
The favourite Canadian Bolt was a bit green in running and deserves another chance.
The most impressive Drier winner was the beautifully-bred Perfect Air, who stormed home to register her third successive win in five starts in the seventh race, an MR 68 Handicap.
The Lammerskraal owned and bred daughter of Dynasty had no luck in her 2017 Cape summer campaign but looks likely to go on with it over ground.
“I didn’t want to know about being beaten today after her great work last week,” said the very pleased Veale, who added that he had it won at the top of the straight already.
