Pinhooking may be more popularly associated with weanlings internationally, but it can be done here with success and an astute BSA Cape Yearling Sale buy flipped to the CTS Ready To Run Sale six months later produced the goods again at Fairview on Friday.
The cleverly named Sullenberger – think the heroic pilot in the Hudson – was purchased by the Andrews family of Sorrento and Pippa Mickleburgh for just R55 000 at the 2018 Mystico Cape Yearling Sale and resold to Fortune Racing for R300 000 at the CTS Ready To Run Sale.
And it was coincidentally the buyer’s nephew Shadlee Fortune, a rider who knows how to showcase his talent during the lockdown times, who produced a polished ride to win the R80 000 Fairview Merchants on Friday on Sullenberger, to give local top trainer Alan Greeff his third consecutive success in the race.
Sullenberger flies home under Shadlee Fortune (Pic – Pauline Herman)
All signs pointed to Gavin Smith’s smart 3yo Global Drummer making it six on the trot and the son of Global View was backed to 5-10 to win again.
But after Marco van Rensburg hit the front at the 250m marker and looked all over a winner, it was young Shadlee who produced an unlikely effort from the year older Sullenberger, who has been regarded as a better horse over 1000m.
With a tailwind at play, Sullenberger was outpaced and last of the field of nine but started making progress late in the race as they also came back to him.
With Global Drummer appearing to run out of puff late after his eight week break, Sullenberger (14-1) pounced and drew away to win easily by 1,75 lengths.
His winning time was 67,21 secs.
Global Drummer has proven himself to be a progressive youngster and he should make amends soon.
Aqua Delta (33-1) flew late to grab third, a head away.
Sullenberger was bred by David Allan and is a son of Champion Sprinter Captain Of All (Captain Al).
He is the first foal of National Emblem’s one-time winner, Free As A Bird, who won at 1400m.
Sullenberger has won 5 races with 5 places from 17 starts for stakes of R310 000.
