Just when Richard Fourie and former multiple East Cape champion trainer Alan Greeff looked to grab the accolades when sensationally winning the first five races on the Fairview Tuesday card, new trainer Lunga Gila stepped in and stole the show with his maiden winner at his first day at the races, for his own account.
After a blank day at home on Saturday, Fourie stabilised the ship and sealed a small feature at Turffontein on Sunday.
But the fanatical hobby fisherman definitely wasn’t messing around at Fairview on Tuesday when he won the first five races for Alan Greeff, on what always looked a good card for the top combination.
But it was Lunga Gila’s day.
The Transkei-born horseman has had a rollercoaster four months, that started with an abortive sortie North to set up base at Randjesfontein.
Ryan Munger drives Vizhoe’s Magic out to hold off Richard Fourie and Open Secret.(Pic – Pauline Herman)
Granted his licence there to finally realise his ambition, he found himself in no man’s land when his only owner reportedly starting playing trainer-trainer.
With confusion over his licence, his dreams shattered, and seemingly on the road to nowhere, Lunga packed up, put Joburg behind him and headed back to Gqeberha.
On Tuesday he saddled his first two runners, both for the Bhana family.
With a runner-up cheque in the first race courtesy of the formless former Cape-based Settle The Dust, Lunga put the cherry on the top of the best first day he could have imagined when Vihzoe’s Magic won the final race of the day under Ryan Munger – to pip Richard Fourie and Alan Greeff!
Five winners – Richard Fourie enjoyed a great day at Fairview (Pic – Pauline Herman)
“I am very proud. I’m very happy,” Lunga told the Sporting Post as he celebrated with a supper amongst friends on Tuesday evening.
“Today I did what I have done many times previously – I saddled a winner. Just this time it was for my own team. I am thrilled!”
When asked if Vizhoe’s Magic, backed from 25-2 to 5-1, had enjoyed stable support, the thrilled Lunga said that so many of his friends and supporters across the country had put their money down.
“R100 there. R50 here. I had so many calls. There were a lot of people behind us today. A lot of sentimental bets too, I suppose. I’m happy when people win. It’s good for racing,” he added.
Asked when he would saddle his next runners, Lunga confirmed ‘next week’.
“I haven’t got a big string. I like to place my horses – not put them under too much pressure and stress. So we will take things one day at a time.”
Asked whether he had enjoyed some celebrations after racing, Lunga added: “I went straight back to my yard after the race. I checked the horses, made sure everybody was happy and tomorrow we start again.”
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