Following his success in the 2017 renewal with champion Hawwaam, Mike de Kock took the Gr2 Dingaans silverware back to his mantelpiece again on Tuesday afternoon when the very progressive Silvano gelding Safe Passage capitalised on the prevailing conditions to register a maiden stakes success.
While the victory was downplayed to some degree by the multiple champion trainer, who said he felt it was not a vintage renewal of the Dingaans, the Silvano gelding could have done little more than have stamped his authority in the manner which he did to register a fourth straight success.
Smanga Khumalo steers Safe Passage to a smart victory (Pic – JC Photos)
“I think the sticky conditions brought stamina into play and he enjoyed that. I must admit, Smanga (Khumalo) was more confident than I was,”he added.
The race developed into what looked like a possible surprise outcome for punters when Bernard Fayd’herbe bounced the 33-1 shot Red Saxon to lead at the 300m. The recent maiden- winning son of speed star Red Ray was going hell for leather inside the distance. But Khumalo, who celebrated his 36th birthday 24 hours earlier, had matters under control.
Safe Passage (5-1) moved up effortlessly and went on by to win going away by 1,50 lengths in a time of 99,85 secs.
Stablemate to the winner, Aragosta (8-1) only got going late but secured third a further length away.
The favourite Pyromaniac (2-1) was always near the rear. He made up some ground late but may not have enjoyed the underfoot conditions and finished a disappointing 9,50 lengths back.
Owned and bred by Drakenstein, Safe Passage is out of the four-time winner and Gr2 The Debutante heroine My Sanctuary (Antonius Pius).
A R500 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Safe Passage has won 4 races with 1 place from 6 starts. His stakes bank is R368 562.
Maybe we will see him down in the Cape for the Derby.
