Trainer Paul Lafferty pulled a feature ace out of the hat for the SA Champions Season host province when the Judpot 3yo Sniper Shot built on smart seconds in the Byerley Turk and Daisy Guineas to win the R400 000 Gr2 Post Merchants at Greyville on Friday evening.
Keagan de Melo steers Sniper Shot to victory as Warren Kennedy pulls out the stops on pacemaker Black Cat Back (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/ Gold Circle)
The subject of a slightly interrupted prep, courtesy of a pulled muscle and the distraction of a failed sales offer after failing his piroplasmosis test, the obviously talented Sniper Shot showed no side effects as he took full advantage of a helter skelter pace to cut the pacemaking favourite Black Cat Back down in the latter stages to score his biggest career victory in style.
The consistent gelding was easy to back at 11-2 as he became the first KZN-based galloper since Muis Roberts’ Mike’s Choice in 2012 to win this prestigious sprint, sponsored for the past 30 years by the popular local rag.
Keagan De Melo, who rode a double on the evening, produced Sniper Shot late to win going away by a half length in a time of 71.36 sec.
Black Cat Back, whose stablemate Sunset Eyes was scratched on Friday morning, stayed on well for second, a half length in front of Tony Rivalland’s Wynkelder, with Pure Blonde powering down the outside to deny Glen Kotzen’s classy filly Too Phat To Fly fourth cheque.
The 2014 July winner Legislate, who was having his first race in over two years, was not persevered with by Bernard Fayd’herbe and finished tailed off.
Bred by Birch Bros, the winner is a son of Varsfontein resident Judpot (A P Indy) out of the three-time winner Seven Veils (Rich Man’s Gold).
Lynton Ryan selected Sniper Shot at the 2016 KZN Sibaya Yearling Sale,where Paul Lafferty signed the cheque at R140 000.
Sniper Shot races in the interests of his trainer and good friends, Louis van Wyk and Investec Director, Mark Currie.
He has won 4 races with 8 places from 16 starts for stakes of R879 625.
Judpot (A.P. Indy – Miesque)
Sniper Shot is bred on the same Judpot-Rich Man’s Gold cross as 2018 Highveld Horse Of The Season – as well the as Champion Middle Distance Horse and Champion Older Male – Coral Fever.
Judpot will be represented by a trio of yearling fillies (#6,#139 & #233) at next month’s KZN Yearling Sale.
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Gr2 Post Merchants (SAf-Gr2)
Greyville, South Africa, June 15, R400k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.11.36
1 – SNIPER SHOT (SAF), 56.0, ch g 3, Judpot (USA) – Seven Veils (SAF) by Rich Man’s Gold (USA). Owner Messrs L C W Van Wyk, M A Currie & P V Lafferty; Breeder Birch Bros; trainer PV Lafferty; jockey K De Melo
2 – Black Cat Back (SAF), 56.0, ch g 4, Black Minnaloushe (USA) – National Celebrity (SAF) by National Assembly (CAN)
3 – Wynkelder (SAF), 54.0, ch g 4, Kahal (GB) – Al Vino (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
Margins: 0.50, 0.50, 0.50
