Stan Elley
Opinion among armchair racing experts about the outcome of the objection, Punta Arenas vs Power King, in the Vodacom Durban July is still divided, but Stan Elley, trainer of the runner-up, is standing by his original assessment: that the stipendiary stewards made the correct decision in overruling jockey Ian Sturgeon’s protest.
According to the stipendiary stewards’ report: Approaching the 200m mark Power King shifted out carrying Legal Eagle outwards. This resulted in Gold Onyx becoming cramped and having to check and Halve The Deficit also becoming cramped for galloping room for a number of strides on the inside of Punta Arenas, who shifted in slightly.
Then near the 100m mark Punta Arenas shifted in and brushed Power King, which resulted in Power King being turned outwards and both horses becoming unbalanced.
Sturgeon lodged an objection on behalf of Punta Arenas against Power King on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. The objection was overruled.
“I was delighted to finish second,” said Elley.
Punta Arenas pulled up with a slightly sore joint on the near-fore. “It’s negligible,” said Elley. “He’s 100% sound at a trot, but is sore when flexed hard.
“On Sunday morning he was fresh, so he took the race very well.
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