Kingofmountain carries top weight but is capable on the sand
Upset results and Kimberley racing go hand in hand and Saturday’s Flamingo Festival climax should provide a serious test for punters looking to get the season off on a winning note. It may be a prudent option to stick with the proven local campaigners like newly crowned champion trainer Dorrie Sham and the wily Cliffie Miller. Even then it looks tough!
With the Northern Cape Awards evening scheduled for Friday evening, it may also pay to stick with those early-to-bedders, although the real hard work would no doubt have been completed by the big day.
Feature Trio
The R200 000 RA Flamingo Mile heads a trio of features on Kimberley’s Super Saturday, which includes the R135 000 Betting World Sprint and the R100 000 Diamond Stayers.
In keeping with the standard in the Northern Cape, all of these races are classed non black-type, but the programme offers plenty of excitement for the sand aficionados, who enjoy their racing sans the fashion and city slicker side-shows that characterise the flagship days in our major centres.
Bay Route showed good ability in the past but may need the outing
Top Choice
Our top rated selection is the Human runner Bay Route, a six time winning son of Silvino who raced with the best in his earlier days and boasts a lifetime highest MR of 100.
He has been rested 38 weeks but enjoys a serious weight pull with some of them off a run in November last year. His fitness is a big question though.
His stablemate San Vicenzo was the subject of a disqualification for his win on 12 May following a positive test and looks well held at best.
Miller Coupling
Cliffie Miller saddles a strong looking coupling of the consistent Kingofmountain and the new man from KZN, Coy Boy.
With no hotshots like last year’s winner Uncle Tommy in the line-up this year, Kingofmountain gets his chance to go one better after being comprehensively beaten into second last year behind the Marwing runner.
The 5yo Ravishing gelding never runs a bad race and has won twice over the course and distance in the ensuing year. He ran a cracking second behind Code Red last time over 200m shorter and meets that one on a half kilo better terms.
The former Des Egdes trained Coy Boy is the second of the Miller horses.
The son of Bezrin has not run for 24 weeks since refusing to gallop at his KZN swansong. He has won 3 of 15 starts and his sand ability needs to be taken on trust.
Champion Dorrie
Dorrie Sham will be proudly wearing her new champion trainer tag at this first meeting of the season, and she saddles a trio, headed by the rather inconsistent Captain Siderius.
Captain Siderius won four on the trot at this venue last year and is well drawn. He also enjoys the services of the bang in form Gunther Wrogemann.
The son of Captain Al made a welcome for return last time when beating his stablemate Lunar Emblem rather easily over 1800m. Captain Siderius is 1kg worse off here and may find the mile on the sharp side.
Lunar Emblem has drawn wide out at 12 but is another who is capable of running as the mood takes hm.
The third of the Sham trio is the Victory Moon gelding Claverhouse. A seven-time winner, he returns from a 66 week break and is likely to need it.
The smart Windrush gelding Code Red won his last start and is a serious contender
Sarel’s Superstars
Sarel Von Willingh Smit saddles a form coupling of Code Red and the Aussie bred, Taqdeer.
Code Red is a ten time winning son of Windrush who is probably at his best over 1200m.
Taqdeer is 2kgs better off with his stablemate for a 3,05 length beating last time but the mile may be an equaliser with his galloping weight of 52.
Gauteng-based Paul Matchett is a rare visitor to these parts and he saddles the now 8yo Kahal gelding Boy Oh Boy.
Unplaced at his last two starts, he is unlikely to still harbour the enthusiasm required to pace it here.
The Fahal gelding Troubled Waters has drawn nicely at 1 but has not seen action for 19 weeks and looks pressed to trouble the fitter and younger horses.
Wallace Tolmay’s Ashaawes gelding King’s Joy is another rather well weighted gelding who comes in off a win over the Vaal sand 1600m two weeks ago.
A three-time winner, the Digteby Stud bred gelding has won 3 of 22 (all on sand) and could make them gallop if he takes to the Kimberley sand.
Mountain Madness
Cliffie Miller’s Kingofmountain looks set to improve on his runner-up finish in this race last year.
He is a marginal selection to beat King’s Joy and Code Red.
There is plenty of underlying ability amongst the rest- the best of them could be Lunar Emblem.
