The 16h10 Betway Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein today is shaping into the race of the week!
Tony Peter’s exciting 3yo Main Defender bumps Mike de Kock’s imported 6yo stallion prospect Mujbar in a red hot 1200m contest.
Import Mujbar at work this week (Pic – Supplied)
Mujbar (UK) makes his South African debut and was imported in 2023 by prominent owner and businessman, Willem Ackerman and Advocate Nigel Riley, for racing, and ultimately for stud.
It is Advocate Riley’s involvement that adds an additional element of friendly needle into the clash as the landscape shifts from the Inquiry Boardroom to the racecourse.
The leading lawman cum thoroughbred breeder may even experience a pang of ‘conflict’ conscience, as he is acting for the Peter family in their recent never-ending National Horseracing Authority travails, and now looks to throw the book at them and their enthusiastic connections with the well-bred stallion.
Interestingly, he also owns Agamemnon who races for the Tony Peter yard in the Jackpot opener!
A winner of the Gr3 Horris Hill stakes over 1400m and Gr2 placed as a juvenile, Mujbar is an athletic son of Oasis Dream’s successful sire son, Muhaarar, out of Madany, a stakes-winning daughter of Acclamation.
Madany was runner-up in the GBP500 000 Newmarket Tattersalls Millions Sprint.
Trainer Mike de Kock reported on his website this week that Mujbar was a very nice horse who had settled in well.
“He’s a good-looking horse with a beautiful temperament and he’s been a pleasure to train. He enjoys his work and has shown us ability.”
He added: “This is a starting point for him. He has pace, all three his wins have come over 1400m, but 1200m is too short.”
Craig Zackey has been booked to ride Mujbar and has declared to ride 1,5kg over the carded 52kg.
“I wanted a strong senior jockey for him first-up, this is a stepping stone for the horse so the extra weight is not a factor for me.”
Calvin Habib steers Main Defender to a victory in the Got The Greenlight Stakes over Barbaresco (Gavin Lerena) last time (Pic – JC Photos)
But the recent Gr3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes winner Main Defender will be tough to down and he looks a ready-made Pick 6 anchor.
He showed class last time to beat Barbaresco, an eyecatching subsequent winner.
The drop to 1200m should not be an issue and the son of Pathfork, frankly (no half pun intended!), looks the class act.
The first race is off at 12h35. Don’t forget to play the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge – this venue has become friendly for winners in recent times!
