Titus gets the better of Wooden Star (Coastal Media)
The Mike Bass PE satellite yard received a much needed boost of firepower that delivered instant results at Fairview on Friday. Arriving from Cape Town under 24 hours prior to the race, the Muhtafal gelding Titus showed his class with a smart win in the R100 000 Fairview 1800.
The withdrawal of Jacques Strydom’s Gogetthesheriff, threw the non black-type race wide open and despite going to post rather tentatively and having his first feel of the polytrack, Titus never put a foot wrong as he stormed to a convincing win under Aldo Domeyer.
Gavin Blake manages the Bass PE satellite base and unlike his wife Estelle, who holds the reins at the Justin Snaith outlet down the way, he seldom gets sent the Cape Town guns and does not have the biggest and best string to work with on an average day.
But in a shrewd shift of policy, Head Office took the plunge in the day’s non black-type double feature and were rewarded with a win and a third cheque payout.
And in a domestic twist, Gavin Blake downed his wife’s charges Wooden Star and Naval Intelligence, who ran second and third respectively.
Titus was always snuggly tucked away on the rail and just two lengths off the pacesetter Cannon, and bounced clear inside the final 250m to beat the recently improved Wooden Star by 0,25 lengths in a time of 109,40 secs.
Assistant trainer Gavin Blake said that Titus was ‘tough as nails’ and had arrived on Thursday night in good order. “ He eat up and ran well despite his first sight of the track. It is a team effort and well done to all.”
Jockey Aldo Domeyer rode a professional race and said that he was happy to be drawn well.
Aldo Domeyer rode the winner
“He pinged the gates and I knew that it was imperative that I get to the rail. He didn’t really know where he was but did his best. Let’s hope Mr Bass sends a few more of these guns!” he laughed.
The one-eyed favourite Political Playboy was not disgraced and ran a fair fifth.
There was drama at about the 1500m when Briar King ducked away from something and veered right off the gallop, dislodging apprentice Stallone Naidoo. There was no further news as we went to press on the young rider’s wellbeing.
Titus was recording his fourth win with 8 places from 19 starts for stakes of R243 700.
He was bred by Dream World Investments, in whose silks he races.
He is by Muhtafal out of the twice winning Kahal mare, Toffee Nose.
The stipes reported:
Bishop’s Choice was nervous in pens and slow away.
Indian Hawk was slow away and suffered post-race distress.
Briar King dislodged jockey Stallone Naidoo as he ducked out at the 1500m marker.
Silent Partner and Maximo were hanging out.
Silverano was not striding out and was found to be lame afterwards.
