Karl Plays Santa
A terrific spectacle on a gorgeous summer’s afternoon but sadly no sponsor in sight. The R200 000 Gr3 Summer Stayers Handicap run over 2500m produced a
24th December 2011
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A terrific spectacle on a gorgeous summer’s afternoon but sadly no sponsor in sight. The R200 000 Gr3 Summer Stayers Handicap run over 2500m produced a
Stan Elley lifted the hapless Tellytrack show and trained a winner on a wintry afternoon at Kenilworth. The Badge Boys’ Punta Arenas looks a promising sort in the making and a possible Derby longshot at this stage. Brandon Morgenrood also maintained his excellent recent commitment and good form in the saddle.
Mauritians are passionate about their horseracing. That undisputed fact is vividly borne out by the crowd that turned out at morning gallops on Tuesday 29 November to welcome star attraction Frankie Dettori.
Grab the formguides and the suntan lotion and get down to Mauritius for a magical weekend of world-class jockeys, beautiful people and thrilling entertainment. The Mauritians know how to dish out hospitality and the Mauritius Turf Club put on a great show at their annual party which brings the curtain down on their season.
Trainer Piet Steyn broke the losing drought with a facile win by his Daylami filly Super Elegant at Kenilworth on 23 November. She now takes her place in the Avontuur Fillies Guineas next weekend, and while Steyn is under no illusions, he says that he will be going out as a serious contender in the prestigious Gr1 event.
A champion trainer and a champion jockey agreed to differ on a piece of equipment. The end result was Bravura’s brilliant victory in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes
A competitive programme on an unseasonally wintry afternoon at Kenilworth saw the lowering of the colours of the highly rated Kingslayer as Justin Snaith and Felix Coetzee celebrated a great double. Brandon Morgenrood also showed what he can do when on song and looks like he is regaining confidence in the saddle.
Midweek racing doesn’t get much better. Especially for Darryl Hodgson and Dean Kannemeyer. The one had three winners, including a ‘mini’ Igugu possibly, while Kannemeyer showed his Classics hand in what looks a big Cape Guineas contender at this stage of the game.
Dean Kannemeyer can do little wrong in the build-up to the Sizzling Summer Season. He and veteran rider Karl Neisius are spoilt for choice as the big feature races loom and it is going to be interesting reflecting back on these days in three months’ time!
Avontuur stallion Var was the toast of Durbanville on Saturday with four superb winners. On the flip side of the coin Jockey Andrew Fortune, after a momentary lapse of good attention,was public enemy number one.
One must question whether the National Horseracing Authority should be doing more to publicise, investigate and explain away some of the topsy turvy results
SA horseracing needs strong leadership – today. Otherwise we are doomed. Stakeholders don’t need this kind of circus!
