To the emotional strains of the late Johnny Clegg’s hit song Impi, Vercingetorix’ classy son African Warrior stamped himself a potential classic prospect for next season with a breathtaking turn of foot to win the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes on Saturday.
A novel touch of initiative by Gold Circle saw the crowd warm to the atmosphere as the popular song played out and welcomed Keagan de Melo and a 2yo he has formed a very profitable relationship with, back to the unsaddling enclosure.
And the cherry on the top of it all was the Pick 6 pool exceeding projections to pass the R9,3 million marker.
Dean Kannemeyer’s first venture into formal syndicated ownership maintained it’s momentum as the thrilled DK Racing Syndicate celebrated a repeat of their July day party where their charge had grabbed the big cheque in the KZN Yearling Sale Million.
Keagan de Melo steers the impressive African Warrior to victory (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Jumping from the widest draw on Saturday, African Warrior, winner of the Gr3 Godolphin Barb earlier this season, proved that he is not limited to restricted sales races as he turned up the volume at the 200m marker, to catch the Tarry filly Spring Break to cap his career peak success by 0,30 lengths in a time of 72,38 secs.
Alramz stayed on a half length off the winner in third.
Easy to back at 6-1, no doubt in view of concerns of the difficulty of his draw, African Warrior didn’t disappoint in another open race. Share Holder started favourite but was never in the hunt and ran well downfield.
African Warrior has won 4 races with 1 place from 6 starts for stakes of R 1 032 375.
The hardy bay gelding was bred by Boland Stud and was purchased for R100 000 at the KZN Yearling Sale. He is out of the one-time winning Jet Master mare, Allez Afrique.
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Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Greyville, South Africa, July 27, R300k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.12.38
1 – AFRICAN WARRIOR (SAF), 60.0, b g 2, Vercingetorix (SAF) – Allez Afrique (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner D K Racing Syndicate (Nom: Mr D M Kannemeyer); Breeder Boland Stud; trainer D Kannemeyer; jockey K De Melo
2 – Spring Break (SAF), 57.5, b f 2, Trippi (USA) – Miss October (SAF) by Var (USA)
3 – Alramz (SAF), 60.0, ch c 2, Soft Falling Rain (SAF) – Valdivia (SAF) by Var (USA)
Margins: 0.30, 0.20, 2.00
