Trainer Gavin Smith crowned a glorious day at the office with five winners on the Fairview Friday programme that included an eyecatching pillar to post score for the Ralphs Racing owned Dawnbreaker in the final leg of the R600 000 Eastern Cape Poly Challenge.
Craig Zackey beckons for applause as Dawnbreaker charges in (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
The former Candice Dawson-trained gelding has found his niche on the Fairview polytrack and benefitted from an astutely judged Craig Zackey ride and some shrewd stamina training by the bang in-form Smith to go all the way over the mile of the East Cape Poly Challenge 1600.
The bonus of R50 000 offered to the horse that participated in all three legs of the innovative series went to the Tobie Spies trained Cape Rebel, who won the first leg and ran fourth today. He finished just 1 point ahead of Dawnbreaker, and an obviously elated owner Justin Turner was on hand to collect the handy bonus cheque.
Gavin Smith – great form
But it was a confidence boosting day ahead of the turf programme on Saturday for the Gavin Smith teamm who saddled fifty percent of the winners on the ten-race programme.
The Mauritzfontein – Wilgerbosdrift sponsored Craig Zackey, who is maturing as a quality rider, took Dawnbreaker to the head of affairs and the Highlands bred galloper relished the mile test to surprise many exotic punters.
Going off at a decent 22-1, Dawnbreaker held on well to resist the belated challenge of Breakfast Club by a length in a time of 94.35 secs.
The improved again Miracle Bureau rounded off the trifecta, with overall consolation bonus winner Cape Rebel grabbing a hard earned fourth – under two lengths off the winner.
A 4yo gelded son of Trippi (End Sweep), the Highlands bred Dawnbreaker is out of the one-time winner Enchanted Dawn (National Assembly).
A winner of 3 races with 9 places from 19 starts for stakes of R263 350, he was purchased for R275 000 off the Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
Saturday is East Cape Derby day and a chance to get some of our cash back!
