The very lightly raced Toreador gelding Bull Valley booked his Gr2 Merchants berth on Sansui Summer Cup day in three weeks from now with a gutsy victory over Cape raider Tar Heel in the R150 000 Listed Golden Loom Handicap.
S’manga Khumalo gets Bull Valley up to snare Tar Heel ((Anton Marcus) in the last stride (Pic – JC Photos)
The 1000m race brought the curtain down on the feature menu at Turffontein on Saturday.
SA champion trainer Sean Tarry may not have had the greatest of days at the office but he and S’manga Khumalo saved the best for last, as Bull Valley grabbed Joey Ramsden’s flying Tar Heel in the final stride after Anton Marcus looked a winner in the final 50m.
S’manga Khumalo – inspired ride
The withdrawal of the high-class 3yo Rivarine, who bolted, put a damper on the race, but opened the door to the finish of the day as two top jockeys rode for their lives on two smart sprinters.
The winning margin was a short head with Bull Valley clocking an impressive 55,71 secs.
Bull Valley, once considered a classic prospect, has won both his starts for Sean Tarry since relocating when Dominic Zaki handed his licence in.
Sean Tarry – day ended well
This includes the Gr3 Man O’War Sprint and his run here after a 31 week break since that race was out of the top drawer.
The Ambiance Stud-bred Bull Valley is a 4yo gelded son of Toreador out of the two-time winning Saumarez mare, Star Of Liberty.
A R180 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, he has now won 4 races with 1 place from 6 starts and took his stakes earnings to R376 125.
This race carries the name of former SA champion sprinter Golden Loom and what a pleasure to listen to his former part-owner Budwa Abrosie in the trophy ceremony.
Goofy with the late Buddy Maroun
Eloquent, sincere and passionate, he was a breath of fresh air.
Budwa, Raymond and Michael Abrosie raced the brilliant Golden Loom, who was affectionately known as ‘Goofy’ to his legion of fans. He was trained by the late Buddy Maroun, and it is wonderful to see racing maintaining sentimental ties such as this one.
Golden Loom raced for nine seasons and chalked up his final race victory at the ripe age of 10. In all, he had 78 starts, won 22 of them and was placed 37 times, for a stakes haul of R2.8-million.
After enjoying his retirement years on a farm at Kyalami, Goofy died in 2010 at the age of 18.
