Taqdeer rallies strongly to hold King’s Joy at bay in the day’s topliner (JC Photos)
Yet another Australian-bred former Mike De Kock-trained galloper was on the board at Flamingo Park on Saturday when Sarel Von Willingh Smit’s Bernardini gelding Taqdeer came home well to win the R200 000 RA Flamingo Mile. The 5yo got the better of a short tussle with Gauteng visitor, King’s Joy to produce the best finish of the day.
Taqdeer looks unlikely to ever recoup his original Aussie dollar denominated price tag but he is proving very competitive in Kimberley.
Newly crowned Northern Cape champion jockey Muzi Yeni started the new season in enthusiastic style and rode two early winners before again taking the fight to his opposition as he let King’s Joy stride out front ahead of Lunar Emblem with Taqdeer five lengths adrift.
Into the home run King’s Joy continued to gallop strongly as Taqdeer challenged at the 400m marker and went straight past down the outside.
Taqdeer looked to draw off but was challenged again by King’s Joy who came right back at him.
The winning margin was a head in the end and Taqdeer completed the mile in a time of 99,56 secs. He went off a weak 5 to 1 favourite.
Wallace Tolmay-trained King’s Joy ran a cracker in second, with topweight Kingofmountain snaring third ahead of Code Red.
The field was well spread with Claverhouse and Coy Boy tailed off.
Taqdeer was bred in Australia by Alma Vale Bloodstock of Queensland and is a son of A.P. Indy stallion Bernadini out of the twice winning Palace Music mare, Gerber. She is a dam of seven winners in Australia.
Taqdeer was bought originally for Aus$ 230 000 on the 2011 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.
He has now won 6 races from 22 starts and took his stake earnings to R295 175. He has won 5 of his 9 starts in Kimberley.
S’manga Khumalo was the most successful jockey on the day with a hat-trick of winners.
