Vermeulen Ready For Horse Chestnut

Zackey replaces Van Rensburg - trainer explains why

Just over a fortnight ago, trainer Phillip Vermeulen’s subsequent Listed Drum Star Handicap winner Savannah Storm was a modest 76 rated handicapper.

On Saturday the lightly raced 4yo takes on some big guns at weight-for-age in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

Savannah Storm – takes his next step up the ladder on Saturday (Pic – JC Photos)

The best son of unheralded and now retired sire Sudden Storm, Savannah Storm won the Drum Star start to finish 13 kgs under sufferance at the weights. He starts as a 106 on Saturday.

 R500 000 1600m 14:45 Ref-818
1st R300000, 2nd R125000, 3rd R50000, 4th R25000
Gr1 H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES 
Weight for Age
WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
1 9 Got The Greenlight 60 124 T A Muzi Yeni Joe Soma
2 3 Cirillo 60 123 BA Lyle Hewitson Sean Tarry
3 7 ExpressFromTheUS 60 118 A Luke Ferraris Stuart Pettigrew
4 6 Ikigai 60 118 A Chase Maujean Sean Tarry
5 4 Chijmes 60 114 A Ryan Munger Gary Alexander
6 10 Capoeira 60 113 BA Warren Kennedy Andre Nel
7 2 Whorly Whorly 60 111 Piere Strydom Clinton Binda
8 1 Tierra Del Fuego 60 110 A Raymond Danielson Sean Tarry
9 11 Pack Leader 60 109 T A S’manga Khumalo Alec Laird
10 8 Savannah Storm 60 106 A Craig Zackey Phillip Vermeulen
11 5 Copper Mountain 57.5 113 AM Gavin Lerena J A Janse van Vuuren

Trained by Phillip Vermeulen for his wife Jeannique, the stable flagbearer steps up for his next major test on Saturday, again under sufferance.

His conditioner says he is fit, well and ready for the challenge.

“With all due respect to our opposition in the Drum Star, Savannah Storm takes on stronger on Saturday and we will know more about his ability afterwards. But all we hope for is that wherever he finishes, he comes back safely,” said the quietly spoken trainer.

When pressed on why Craig Zackey, who won on the gelding at his penultimate start, replaces Marco van Rensburg on Saturday, Phillip explained that trainers with small strings faced an ongoing challenge securing the services of the top jockeys.

“I needed a lightweight last time as Craig (Zackey), who won on him at his post maiden outing, couldn’t do the weight. Marco did nothing wrong in the Drum Star. But the moment the entries came out, I had a call from Craig Zackey’s agent and, based on the fact that Stuart Pettigrew has Expressfromtheus, a horse who Marco has partnered regularly, in the race, I accepted Craig Zackey.”

Phillip said that it was common sense and economics that dictated that jockeys who had access to the bigger yards, received and rendered preference from and to those trainers.

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