The World Pool Gold Cup is always a spectacle of drama and thrilling action and Sunday’s 104th renewal of the great marathon has seen further post-race fall-out with the winning jockey incurring a substantial crop use contravention fine, and another rider having an official complaint laid against him by the connections of a Highveld raider.
Drama as Corne Orffer produces Master Redoute down the centre to catch Shoot The Rapids (Muzi Yeni, white cap) in the World Pool Gold Cup on Sunday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Master Redoute did not have the best of luck in the Hollywoodbets Durban July after being one of the chief victims in a rough race.
“He likes it rough but not quite that rough,” confessed trainer Andre Nel, “but I guess you get what you wish for,” he quipped after Master Redoute had eased through a tight gap to win the World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
Jockey Corne Orffer concurred: “I went for a tight gap and hoped that it would not close on me. But that’s what he likes” he said of his mount post-race.
Quirky Highveld raider Zeus was taken to the front by Grant van Niekerk down the back stretch and opened up a big lead, chased by Future Swing and Shoot The Rapids, with the balance playing catch-up.
The field concertinaed approaching the final turn, Zeus fading early, leaving Shoot The Rapids and Future Swing fighting for the lead with a wall of horses challenging leaders Master Redoute and Ponte Pietra. Future Swing drifted off a straight course close to home, hampering Shoot The Rapids and giving the advantage to Master Redoute, who kept on gamely.
The Stipes reported that following the race, they received an official written complaint from the connections of Zeus and will enquire into the circumstances of the race and if there has been a possible contravention of Rule 62.2.9, pertaining to a rider taking all reasonable measures to ensure that he rides to the instructions given to him by the authorised persons.
In his defence, Grant van Niekerk found Zeus a handful, the gelding having to be led to the start. He also over-raced in the early and middle stages.
Our much debated crop use rules were in the spotlight again when winning jockey Corne Orffer signed an admission of guilt for a contravention of Rule 58.10.2.
Orffer misused his crop by striking eventual winner Master Redoute more than twelve times (14), which was deemed not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race.
Accordingly, a penalty of a fine of R35 250 and a suspension of not riding in races for a period of 14 days was imposed.
