Veteran trainer Roy Magner’s early prediction that ‘this boy will go places’ is becoming reality for Robert Chung’s progressive Twice Over colt, Taikonaut.
The Cheveley Stud-bred galloper took a step up in class in his stride at Turffontein on Saturday when he got the better of a thrilling late duel under Muzi Yeni with the year older Supreme Warrior (Smanga Khumalo), to win the R250 000 Gr3 Lebelo Sprint.
Muzi Yeni (gold/red cap) drives Taikonaut down the inside to beat Supreme Warrior (Smanga Khumalo) in a thriller (Pic – JC Photos)
Ridden again by Muzi Yeni after his eyecatching WSB Sophomore 1000 win at the Vaal on 10 December, the handily weighted Taikonaut, who went off a 5-4 favourite, again showed steely resolve to get the better of the topweighted Supreme Warrior (6-1) to win by a head in a time of 56,73 secs for the 1000m.
A winner of 3 races with 1 place from 5 starts for stakes of R218 875, Taikonaut cost Hong Kong owner Robert Chung R600 000 at the 2021 BSA August 2yo Sale.
Bred by Cheveley, Taikonaut is a son of Twice Over out of the four-time winning Captain Al mare, Earth’s Orbit.
Watch the replay here:
This was the last Turffontein racemeeting for 2022.
