Shea Shakes & Stirs ‘Em

Cool Customer! Ice Machine (Kevin Shea) down the inside, repels King Of Pain to win a thriller (Equine Edge)

Jockey Kevin Shea deserves much of the credit for the Silvano gelding Ice Machine’s last gasp win in Saturday’s R300 000 Gr2 Green Point Stakes run at WFA, over the Kenilworth winter mile. The veteran jockey swooped from nowhere with a cool balanced ride, to sour what looked like a dream return to winning form for Joey Ramsden’s smart grey, King Of Pain.

This was a close thing. At the 200m marker Bernard Fayd’herbe on the Ramsden grey would have already been planning how to spend his winning commission.

King Of Pain had surged forward menacingly, and Fayd’herbe would no doubt have been momentarily puzzled by the famous red and yellow Meaker flag waving down his inside, straight out of the blue.

In winning this race, Ice Machine confirmed the potential often raved about by his previous trainer Garth Puller, who had brought him down for the 2013 J&B Met.

This was his best career performance, after finishing a great second to Beach Beauty in the 2013 Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes.

Kannemeyer has done well with the son of Silvano, and notched up his second win on the trot.

The surprise victory would also no doubt have served some compensation for the flat run of Capetown Noir, who was beaten by a wide draw.

In the fifteen horse field, No Worries led Hill Fifty Four and  Castlethorpe, with Beach Beauty and Capetown Noir going together in a joint fourth position.

No Worries dashed down the rail led deep into the home run, with Capetown Noir getting going but labouring  down the middle of the track. At that stage Ice Machine, who had come from way back, was drawing alongside Beach Beauty about four lengths off the lead.

Into the final stages Ice Machine drew alongside King Of Pain, who seriously appeared to be going like a winner.

In an exciting finish Shea didn’t punish his mount and Ice Machine put his best foot forward to grab King Of Pain in the last stride. Both started at 16/1. The winning margin was a head, with a winning time of 98, 21secs posted.

The Dennis Drier Dynasty mare Beach Beauty, started a 9/10 favourite, and ran a 1,55 length third. There was mixed reaction to her effort and she had every chance.

The pacemaking No Worries went quite fast in a notable change of tactics, but stayed on for fourth, while Capetown Noir had to overcome a poor draw, and after looking threatening, he fizzled to run a disappointing fifth. He is becoming a difficult customer to unravel.

A son of Silvano, Ice Machine is out of the three time winning Elliodor mare Skid Alley.

Bred by Roy Meaker and he registered his seventh win with 5 places from 19 starts, taking his stake earnings with this victory to R635 950.

If he stays sound, Ice Machine deserves  an opportunity to make good in the 2014 Met.

After all, Silvano sired the winner last year, and the double looms for our newly crowned champion stallion.