It’s never easy to make up ground in a sprint, especially after an awkward start on debut.
Mike de Kock’s newcomer Destiny Of Fire was inexperienced out of the gates in the first run over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday – she came out with what looked like half a flyjump and lost a length or two on her rivals in a race with pace all around her.
Destiny Of Fire (yellow cap, Serino Moodley_ gets the better of Rachel Venniker and Ladyofdistinction (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
But jockey Serino Moodley handled her calmly and with patience.
She raced up to the hindquarters of the back markers, found her running rhythm and settled sensibly.
Destiny Of Fire was still last with 500m to go, but, switched into the open she quickened nicely and put herself well into the race with 300m to run.
There was a stampede of runners racing into the closing stages, but she finished best and got her nose in front right on the line.
Destiny Of Fire survived an objection by the jockey of the runner-up.
The Stipes reported as follows:
Approaching the 100m DESTINY OF FIRE (S Moodley) was brushed by LADYOFDISTINCTION (R A Venniker) which switched out off the heels of ARE YOU SURE (C Zackey) to obtain a clear run. Thereafter, shortly before the finish line LADYOFDISTINCTION (R A Venniker) which was hanging in, rolled in away from DESTINY OF FIRE (S Moodley) which shifted in marginally away from the crop and was straightened.
A race review was called by a member of the Stipendiary Board into this incident which was followed by an Objection being lodged by Jockey R Venniker on behalf of the second placed horse LADY OF DESTINCTION, against the winner DESTINY OF FIRE (S Moodley) on the grounds of interference in the latter stages.
The Board, after considering the evidence presented and viewing the patrol films from the various angles, over-ruled the objection. In arriving at this decision the Board was of the opinion that the first interference between these two horses was a result of Jockey Venniker shifting towards DESTINY OF FIRE (S Moodley).
Furthermore, the Board was of the opinion that the minimal carry from DESTINY OF FIRE (S Moodley) onto LADYOFDISTINCTION (R A Venniker) did not affect the result of the Race. Therefore the Objection was over-ruled, the Judge’s result allowed to stand and the deposit refunded.
At the 300m Jockey T Godden (LADY PLATINA) accidentally dropped his crop.
Destiny Of Fire races in partnership for Mike de Kock and Chris Haynes.
She was bred by the late Lady Chrys O’Reilly by Master of Fate out of Festival Of Fire, who won the 2012 Gr3 Joburg Spring Challenge and finished second in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes.
“This is a nice filly, she’s going to win her share of races,” said Mike de Kock on his website.
