Extinguished! Karis Teetan steers Distinguished to a great win in the Listed The Darley Arabian
Hong Kong bound Karis Teetan rode his colleagues to sleep under the Greyville lights on Saturday evening. The Mauritian born jockey grabbed the initiative on the Charles Laird trained Distinguished who went from gun to tape to win the R150 000 Listed The Darley Arabian in courageous style.
Teetan bounced the Kahal gelding out like a flash and led early as only Weichong Marwing (Halfway To Heaven) and Keagan De Melo (Silent Partner) seemed conscious of maintaining striking distance.
With the rest of the jockeys rather nonchalantly giving him licence, Teetan cleverly stretched his field out and the front three covered eight lengths in their own race ahead of the pack.
Into the home run Distinguished continue to roll and despite shortening his stride in the final 200m, he had enough in reserve to hold off the late challenge of Silent Partner.
Distinguished won the mile contest at 20 to 1 by 1,25 lengths in a time of 94.36 seconds.
Silent Partner ran second, with Grasp Your Destiny staying on for third, ahead of General Sherman.
General Sherman appeared to once again find Greyville awkward to show his best and he should be watched as he is likely to return to winning ways at a track like Turffontein.
The rest were caught badly napping, with the backed 22 to 10 favourite Yorker finishing a disappointing eighth.
Distinguished had run unplaced and 4,75 lengths behind Hammie’s Dynasty over 1450m at Clairwood last Wednesday, but was full of enthusiasm.
Distinguished is by Kahal out of the four time winning Rambo Dancer mare, Dignify.
He was bred by Steve Sturlese and Summerhill Stud and and cost R800 000 on the National Yearling Sale.
He was registering a fourth win with 4 places from 15 starts and took his stake earnings to R275 150.
It was a great ride by Teetan. But take care with this form.
