Summerveld trainer Kumaran Naidoo was one of only two visiting trainers to take on the locals on Flamingo Park’s flagship raceday of the year on Saturday. In the end, his two winners would have justified the great trek inland.
It may be pure economics or just not having the right horses, but only Naidoo and Tobie Spies ventured to the Diamond Dustbowl on Saturday. In years past we have seen the likes of such diverse yards as Mike de Kock and Candice Dawson taking their chances.
Warren Kennedy has Tweed Valley leading as Collen Storey drives the well-supported Timkat out (Pic – JC Photos)
Naidoo saddled two runners in the R135 000 Betting World Sprint, which included last year’s winner Roy’s Marciano. Warren Kennedy was aboard the consistent Greyville all-weather placer Tweed Valley and while there isn’t too much of the Pathfork speedster, she was the one to come up trumps – powering home at 7-1 to beat the well backed first reserve starter Timkat.
Warren Kennedy and Tweed Valley were dwarfed by the Fort Wood gelding down their inside, but try as Collen Storey may, Timkat was 1,40 lengths short at the line as Tweed Valley powered home in 57,14 secs.
Roy’s Marciano wins the same race for Naidoo in 2017 (Pic – JC Photos)
Rock A Bye Baby and Sweet Pleasures rounded off the quartet to make it a 1-3-4 for the fairer sex.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Tweed Valley is by Irish Champion Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the one-time winning Right Approach mare Brora, who was a R120 000 purchase from the 2016 Val De Vie Yearling Sale.
She has won 2 races with 8 places from 16 starts for stakes of R223 350.
Naidoo’s first winner came up in the fifth race, where apprentice Serino Moodley earned his white blazer by riding his 60th career winner on the Avontuur Farm / Zenzele Stud-bred Var mare Royal Kaitrina scored her third career win in the MR 78 Handicap.
