Racing It’s A Rush. The merits of that unconvincing marketing play have been debated ad nauseam for some time. But full marks to the KZN boys for pulling together and rattling off eight races in a genuine rush – just 2 hours and 20 minutes to be precise, on the very first (and hopefully not last) Quickfire Friday at Greyville racecourse.
Some of the negativity that spewed forth from various quarters in the build-up should not be seen as genuine criticism.This game breeds cynics naturally – because customers are generally not treated like they matter, on an average day.
The concept of an express meeting is untested previously in this country (one of the Gold Circle scribes labelled it a world first?) and the general racing fan base is just not used to seeing any initiative on the part of racing’s officialdom.
Graeme Hawkins – deserves credit for trying a fresh approach
So when Gold Circle Chief Operating Officer Graeme Hawkins dared step out of his racing administrator comfort zone and try something a little different, he no doubt expected some flak.
And while we are not privvy to what went on behind closed doors on Friday, the outward expediency of the evening was refreshing – and also proved what can happen when a genuine effort is made to stick to time-tables and get everybody to pull their weight.
And every known suit was on duty, marshalling the jockeys and trainers in the parade ring.
Sadly, it will not be the market’s reception of how the meeting went down, but more what the officials and jockeys feel about the pressure they were put under, that determines whether these shows become a regular feature.
But let’s wait and see.
There were a few standout memories of the evening.
1.The Tellytrack presentation was top-class.
Deez Dayanand – a pro
The idea of getting a snappy post-race response from the winning rider and trainer beats the life out of the usual gushy post-race interview waffle and captures a certain element of breathless reality (witness the elated Jose Barnes) that is pure entertainment.
While we missed KB Shea, the team of Deez Dayanand and Warren Lenferna (a bit of an underrated and underutilised talent on the small screen) worked a charm and maintained a slice of tasty interest on the twenty minute sandwich between races.
Dean Kannemeyer – fine run of form
2.Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer started the evening on the backfoot when his 1-3 Western Winter colt Never Settle ran a dirty fourth in the first. Like the veteran that he is, Kannemeyer bounced back and maintained his purple patch of form (how Summerveld has come together for him!) by saddling a winning double for Khaya Stables.
The Trippi filly Real Princess looks a Guineas prospect as she coasted to a personal hat-trick in the third at her first time on the poly. Jockey Stuart Randolph said she ‘made me look good.’
The same silks were to the fore in the seventh race when the 20 week rested Solid Speed cruised home to win in the hands of Anthony Delpech.
3.Apprentice Calvin Habib, a former regular on the Gauteng work-rider scene, rode his first winner as a professional jockey, when Missmasala brought her Gauteng form into play and came home in a canter to win the fourth race as tote favourite.
4. Apprentice Jose Barnes (he has the gift of the gab as Tellytrack’s Shaheen Shaw observed) rode a terrific race to win the sixth on the Colin Scott-trained Libertine, when Callan Murray on runner-up Fire The Rocket must have already been composing his acceptance speech.
5. Apprentice Akshay Balloo rode a determined race in the second event to get Luis Cunha’s Sovereign Reign up on the line to nab Tristan Godden who had made all on Teppanyaki, and was a winner everywhere, but the line.
6.Avontuur sponsored Anthony Delpech rode a cracking double on Delicious Damowan and Solid Speed.
Now we just have to get through 9 hours of Turffontein and Durbanville on Saturday afternoon!
Please post a short comment and tell us how you felt about it.
