Disappointed. One can only wonder how Duncan Howells feels after the shambles
Calling the R120 000 King’s Pact Stakes at Clairwood on Sunday a shambles, has got to qualify as the understatement of the decade. Gates not opening on time and a dog on the track gave the surreal impression that we were watching the comedy channel.
Dealing with highly strung two year old fillies is nobody’s idea of fun on an average day, but the KZN starter found himself in the spotlight for once too often again as he failed to call a false start with most of the jockeys staring down his throat.
The high drama developed at the start, when the 13 to 20 favourite My Sanctuary reared and fell over backwards, appearing to bump her head.
After having a good look at her, the Vet gave Alec Forbes the all clear, and together with her chief rival in the betting, War Path, who was drawn alongside her, she was reloaded.
With My Sanctuary’s gate failing to open on time, and with Raat Ki Rani jumping slowly, Caribbean Bay led War Path with the favourite My Sanctuary way out of her ground, after her gate had failed to open on time.
Inside the 200m, Marcus set War Path alight and she cruised into the lead to beat the favourite’s stablemate Along Came Polly, with My Sanctuary third.
In terms of rule 61. 5. 10.1, the fact that My Sanctuary had run third meant that she could not be declared a non runner. The result thus stood.
Enraged punters crowded the Stipes and Jockeys Room after the race and blocked entrances. The police had to be called.
War Path won by 1,25 lengths in a time of 59,76 secs. Not that those stats mean a thing.
The winner is trained by Charles Laird and was bred by Klawervlei Stud. She is by Captain Al out of the thrice winning Rock Of Gibraltar mare, Uber Rock.
What a joke.
