The Judpot gelding Coral Fever produced the peak run of his career at Turffontein on Saturday as he stormed home to win the R400 000 Gr2 Colorado King Stakes and take his career earnings over the R1 million mark.
Muzi Yeni straightens Coral Fever as the gelding holds off the persistent Fort Ember and Keagan De Meloo (Pic – JC Photos)
Muzi Yeni is riding with renewed vigour and the hard-working jockey earned every cent of his riding fee, with Coral Fever lugging in and proving a difficult ride at the business end.
The joint top-rated feature of the afternoon only hosted nine runners and many observers felt that 2016 SA Triple Crown winner Abashiri had found the perfect opportunity to get back into the winner’s enclosure after a close on two year dry spell.
But after an ominous betting drift, it was not to be.
Keagan de Melo had Fort Ember leading the pack ahead of Finchatton and Girl On The Run, as Abashiri coasted along in fourth.
Into the run for home, Orffer was keen to up the gallop and he brough Abashiri up to challenge as Fort Ember galloped relentlessly.
Coral Fever, who had been near last for most of the race, started making up solid ground down the outside but as the 5yo neared the front at the 250m marker, he lugged out – thanfully not causing any interference.
With Fort Ember staying on and Social Order picking them off late, Coral Fever stayed on best to win by 1,25 lengths in a time of 124,58 secs.
Robbie Sage – had Coral Fever spot on
Fort Ember stayed on well after attempting to dictate matters and was a half-length ahead of Social Order, who ran a cracker just six days after winning the Kings Cup at Greyville.
Abashiri looks to be a shadow of his former self. Given every chance by Corne Orffer, he was the first to come under pressure and ran a one-paced 2.20 lengths off the winner.
A R130 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, the Ascot Stud-bred Coral Fever is a son of Judpot (AP Indy) out of the two-time winner, Coral Tree (Rich Man’s Gold).
A winner of 5 races with 7 places from 19 starts for stakes of R1 046 650, Coral Fever could now headed to the R4 million Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein on 5 May.
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Gr2 Colorado King Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, March 31, R400k, 2000m, turf, good, 2.04.58
1 – CORAL FEVER (SAF), 60.0, ch g 5, Judpot (USA) – Coral Tree (SAF) by Rich Man’s Gold (USA). Owner Ms Sylvia Vrska & Mr Colin Bird; Breeder Ascot Stud; trainer RR Sage; jockey M Yeni
2 – Fort Ember (SAF), 58.5, b m 5, Elusive Fort (SAF) – Glowing Ember (SAF) by Kahal (GB)
3 – Social Order (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, Count Dubois (GB) – Dancette (SAF) by Dancing Duel (SAF)
Margins: 1.25, 0.50, 0.25
