Christmas arrived early for favourite backers when Craig Zackey unleashed a rare Vaal feature winner for Lady Christine Laidlaw’s powerful Khaya Stables in the shape of former Cape-based Pomodoro’s Jet, who turned the weather-delayed R500 000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage into a race for second.
A powerful performance from Craig Zackey and Pomodoro’s Jet (Pic – JC Photos)
Delayed from Saturday after lightning enveloped the Vereeniging track, the race was reduced to 17 runners from the original 24.
After sticking to his inside draw and tracking the pacy Slinky Mapimpi and Savannah Storm for much of the 1475m journey, Pomodoro’s Jet (3-1) showed the benefit of his cheek pieces and justified the betting boards and stable confidence with a facile 5,50 length victory.
The 6yo won in a time of 86,01 secs, to give the Hollywoodbets-sponsored combination of Brett & James Crawford a maiden success in the eighth renewal of the event from their Randjesfontein satellite yard.
Lucky Houdalakis’ Master Christmas (25-1) gave the quartet a boost by coming out of the pack for second, ahead of Slinky Mapimpi (17-2) and Silver Tudor.
The first three finishers were drawn 4-2-1, while highly regarded Captainofthegreen (6-1 ) finished just out of the money and 6,90 lengths off the winner from his 16 draw under replacement Philasande Mxoli.
Bred by Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud and a R200 000 BSA National 2yo Sale graduate, Pomodoro’s Jet is a son of Jet Master’s Durban July winning son Pomodoro out of the Captain Al mare, Gorgeous Al.
A winner of 6 races with 8 places from 19 starts, Pomodoro’s Jet took his earnings to R799 577.
