Have horse will travel. The pioneering spirit of trainer Corne Spies is legendary and admired in South African horseracing. He has conquered the remotest reaches of the country from his Vaal home base and is on the road to a chilly Kimberley again today.
Howling Tom – worth including
Corne has an outstanding record in the R100 000 Kimberley Nursery and bids for a fifth win in just eight years when he saddles a quartet of runners in the 1400m feature.
Spies, who took out his trainer’s license in 2000, after learning the ropes from the tender age of 7 under his Dad Tobie, was ‘lucky enough’ to have bought a top filly called Fun Fly in that same year – which put him on the map and gave him his first SA Fillies Nursery win in 2001.
Corne Spies – great record
Fifteen years on in a very different world, with a Zimbabwean championship title trophy in the cabinet, and minus a bit of hair – but with the same natural energy and drive to succeed – the amiable Spies continues to churn out the winners from PE to Pietermaritzburg.
And after being knocked off his Kimberley Nursery wave in 2015 by up-and-coming relative newbie Tienie Prinsloo, he will fancy his chances on Monday to build on the impressive ‘Corne Kimberley Club’ of Indigofera (2010), Oh So Var (2012), Hawksworth (2013) and Topostwego (2014).
Flashback – Hawksworth wins the Kimberley Nursery in facile fashion (JC Photos)
The race is a tough form puzzle as only seven of the twelve runners have won – and then only one race each.
The Daring Bid colt Howling Tom is the first of the Spies trio. Bred by ‘Cash’ Truter, he shed his maiden over the course and distance just last Monday when running on powerfully to beat Maths Major in a thriller.
The strength of that field could be questioned, but he improved smartly on his first run and showed an appreciation for the trip. If this run has not come too soon, he could go in again.
Craig Zackey – rides Zip Line
Craig Zackey rode Howling Tom, but takes the reins on the Rebel King gelding Zip Line, who has his first run here.
He has shown pace with three modest paces in Gauteng, but may have soundness issues judging from the post-race comments.
Their third runner is the King’s Chapel filly Rasberry Lips – the Scott Bros bred product being the most experienced campaigner with 16 runs under her belt.
She won her maiden at this centre and was considered good enough to try her luck in a Gauuteng turf stakes feature some time ago.
Promise Bay is yet to show and looks to have it all to do.
Gitano Hernando
Tienie Prinsloo is making a bold bid for the Kimberley champion trainer title and after winning this event last year, he saddles a duo, headed by new sire Gitano Hernando’s first ever winner.
Los Ninos started his career out in the Cape and has run some decent races since relocating to Kimberley.
His last run was not impressive, but prior to that was not far off in older company.
Mogok’s Doll is yet to show any spark in two runs.
Cliffie Miller’s Seattle Wonder won his penultimate start but ran a modest fourth last time. He iis also drawn a bit wide.
Corrie Lensley is another man with championship aspirations and he saddles a decent coupling of the Spectrum colt Zaragoza and a pair of recent maiden winning fillies. Both of the latter are well drawn and look forward enough to enjoy the step up in ground.
It could be a case of horses for courses and Corne Spies will be hungry to win this.
Howling Tom won nicely last time and he is improving. He can’t be selected with a high degree of confidence though.
