The important role of Kimberley in the broader scheme of our racing economy as a second career option for many horses was underlined again. This was courtesy of the former Dennis Drier charge Seattle Skyline who trotted up as the talking horse of the afternoon to win the R200 000 Flamingo Mile unextended at Flamingo Park on Saturday.
Starting at 18-10 after some inspired support, Wesley Marwing was given an armchair ride on the 6yo, who has now won 3 of his 4 starts on the sand – pulling up lame at his only unplaced effort.
Wesley Marwing salutes as he banks the easiest commission he will earn all season (Pic – JC Photos)
While he won two races out of the Drier Summerveld base, the gelding wasn’t delivering the killer blow and showed that he could be a Horse Of The Year contender in these parts on Saturday. He is a reformed character on the sand – and if he stays sound, he looks a horse for the black book.
He won unextended by 2,75 lengths in a time 98,56 secs to give Klawervlei Stud and Sarel von Willingh Smit a feature double.
The 36-1 shot Happy Pills came out of the pack to beat Phil’s Power (8-1) into third.
The former Gr1 winner Mac de Lago, racing off an 85 with a career high 114 registered, ran a poor race to finish over 24 lengths back and confirmed trainer Corrie Lensley’s thoughts that he may well be more effective at the Vaal on the grass with his daisy-cutting action inhibiting his sand ambitions.
Seattle Skyline was purchased for R140 000 by top KZN trainer Dennis Drier off the 2015 Emperors Palace National 2yo Sale.
He is a son of the now Clifton Stud-based Mambo In Seattle (Kingmambo) out of the five-time winning Fort Wood mare, Isle Of Skye.
He has won 5 races with 14 places from 25 starts for stakes of R569 750.
This race wrapped up the Bipot, which paid a healthy R8847,40.
