Anthony Delpech steers Halve The Deficit down the rail to an easy Colorado King Stakes win (JC Photos)
The withdrawal of Captain Lars reduced the R400 000 Gr2 Colorado King Stakes field to just seven runners, but trainer Sean Tarry was happy to go home with the first, second and fourth cheques. For punters, it may have been a case of the wrong one winning.
Piere Strydom has ridden all three of the Tarry trio in the past and punters sided with the top jockey’s call to partner the fast improving Cagiva again. With the scratching of his biggest likely opponent in Captain Lars, Delpech jumped off that and replaced an indisposed Weichong Marwing on Halve The Deficit.
It was to prove a fortuitous chance for Delpech on the 2014 Wolf Power 1600 winner.
Richard Fourie, who had a good day with an early double for Weiho Marwing, took The Barbadian up to lead Cagiva and Brooks Club, with Ilha Bela and Halve The Deficit further back.
The order remained the same into the straight where Strydom decided to up the pace as he took Cagiva to lead at the 400m, with stablemate Halve The Deficit ghosting through down the inside.
Nice chance ride for Anthony Delpech
Strydom appeared to have matters under control as Cagiva galloped strongly but at the 200m marker Halve The Deficit cruised on by and drew off to win by a length in a time of 123,39 secs.
Cagiva stayed on for second, with Knock On Wood rattling through late and The Hangman in fourth.
A R600 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Halve The Deficit was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is by Right Approach out of the three time winning Fort Wood mare, National Banker.
He has now won 6 races with 5 places from 16 starts for stakes of R636 550.
It will be interesting to see which one Strydom chooses to ride on Champions Day.
*
Gr2 Colorado King Stakes (SAf-Gr2) Turffontein, South Africa, April 5, R400k, 2000m, turf, good, 2.03.39 1‒HALVE THE DEFICIT (SAF), 59.0, b g 5, Right Approach (GB) – National Banker (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA). Owner Mr C J H van Niekerk & Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert); breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer SG Tarry; jockey A Delpech 2‒Cagiva (SAF), 58.5, b g 4, Silvano (GER) – Blue Paradise (SAF) by Jallad (USA) 3‒Knock On Wood (SAF), 59.5, b g 6, Muhtafal (USA) – Kiss Me Kate (SAF) by Rocky Marriage (USA) Margins: 1, nk, 3
