Daring Dave’s head is down as Moofeed looms up down the outside. Willow Magic is hidden on the inside
A false start caused by the favourite Willow Magic dominated the headlines in the R350 000 Gr2 Post Merchants run at Greyville on Friday evening. Over-enthusiasm cost the 4yo son of Dubawi, who ran a cracker in the circumstances, but just failed to withstand storming late challenges from Cape raider Daring Dave, and Mike De Kock’s Moofeed.
Highlands stallion Dynasty is enjoying another superb season and Daring Dave’s victory here was to provide a another booming billboard for the farm and this versatile champion producing stallion – as well as dishing up a notable Post Merchants double for current SA champion trainer Justin Snaith, who won the race last year with the Var filly, Varikate.
Richard Fourie is understandably elated after a top ride
With a big field of fifteen to be loaded, things seemed to be going smoothly. But went awry as Willow Magic appeared to nudge his stall gate a split second before the rest jumped. Jockey Piere Strydom was looking to his right for guidance from the starter, just a stride into the race.
The Alec Laird-trained Aurum Pot may have come off worst of the false alarm, and went about 400m before being pulled up by his rider – while the eventual winner, Daring Dave, hardly broke a sweat as one of the slow jumpers and he conserved important energy, that was to count later.
Willow Magic got away quickly the second time around but was eased back by Piere Strydom as he stalked Sheik’s Braashee and Royal Zulu Warrior, who led the charge.
Marcus had the speedy Normanz following on the heels of Willow Magic, with Daring Dave relaxed in midfield, and the poorly drawn Moofeed stone last.
Into the home run, and without a false rail, there was plenty of jockeying for gaps.
Marcus sent Normanz for home at the 350m mark but Willow Magic was quick on the uptake, while further back Moofeed stormed up the outside from lengths back.
At the 200m Willow Magic and Moofeed were set to do battle, but Daring Dave had other ideas and under a brave and determined ride by Richard Fourie,he put his ears back as the ham in the sandwich between the Australian-breds Willow Magic and Moofeed- and somehow got up in the dying strides to beat the latter by a head in a time of 71,18 secs.
He started at 11-1.
Blame or not, the false start would have done Willow Magic’s prospects plenty of harm, and he was not disgraced a further 0,25 lengths away in third, with the tough as teak Aurum Pot gallant in fourth.
Justin Snaith – another feature winner
Daring Dave’s speed is an interesting asset. His dam won at 2200m.
He won 5 of his first 7 starts with exceptional toe from the front and was earmarked by Snaith as his 2014/15 Cape Summer Season speed flagbearer.
Things didn’t quite pan out, despite looking good after he was runner-up to Tevez in the Gr2 Cape Merchants in November. But on Friday night, he turned things around – and showed that he can run at them late, rather than just flash speed.
Bred by Highlands, Daring Dave is by Dynasty out of the Grand Slam mare, Glory Sister, who won once at 2200m.
A R425 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate, Daring Dave was scoring his sixth win with 4 places from 14 starts and took his stakes tally to R589 875.
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Gr2 Post Merchants (SAf-Gr2)
Greyville, South Africa, June 19, R350k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.11.18
1 – DARING DAVE (SAF), 56.0, b g 4, Dynasty (SAF) – Glory Sister (USA) by Grand Slam (USA). Owner Messrs H Adams, D Chinsammy & Mrs T Chinsammy; Breeder Highlands; trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie
2 – Moofeed (AUS), 56.0, b c 4, Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) – Dizzy De Lago (AUS) by Encosta De Lago (AUS)
3 – Willow Magic (AUS), 56.0, ch c 4, Dubawi (IRE) – La Willow (AUS) by Tierce (AUS)
Margins: 0.10, 0.25, 1.50
