The 2015 Fairview poly champion Gogetthesheriff recovered from a tardy start to storm home and win the opening leg of the newly introduced R600 000 World Sports Betting Eastern Cape Poly Challenge on Monday.
2014/15 Polytrack Horse Of The Year Gogetthesheriff
The R100 000 WSB East Cape Poly Challenge 1200 looked to be in the bag inside the 100m for the Sham runner Happy Lion, who got first run on the pack in the latter stages.
But JP van der Merwe is riding like a demon since his J&B Met moment of glory two months ago and rode for his life to get Freddie Van Onselen’s chestnut up to win going away.
Jacques Strydom has done an outstanding job with the temperamental 5yo Go Deputy gelding, who originally raced for Mike de Kock in the silks of his breeders, Lammerskraal Stud.
This was Gogetthesheriff’s tenth win and as a versatile performer he looks to be even better suited to the 1400m and the mile of the next two legs.
The second leg of the challenge is the R100 000 WSB East Cape Poly Challenge 1400 on Monday April 18 and the final leg is the R100 000 WSB East Cape Poly Challenge 1600 on Friday May 13.
A bonus of R250 000 will be paid to owner/s of the horse that wins all three legs of the Challenge.
There will also be a consolation bonus of R50 000 to the best performed horse, although only horses who participate in all 3 legs and win at least 1 leg qualify.
The Poly Challenge provides a great opportunity for horses suited to South Africa’s most newly introduced racing surface and it also provides a more distinct platform for horses vying to be named The Eastern Cape’s Polytrack Horse Of The Year – a title won by Gogetthesheriff last term.
