Dream Machine. Sharp Design shows them the way
Ormond Ferraris’ speed demon Sharp Design ran his opposition ragged to grab the biggest prize of his glittering career to date. His victory in Tuesday evening’s R200 000 Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap was most impressive and spoke of plenty to come.
All the money poured on the Kum Naidoo trained Royal Zulu Warrior to win the 1000m event after his recent cracking win, but it was no contest as the Ferraris bomb took full advantage of his weight pull to run the whole lot off their feet.
And while things are always easy after a win, it was a brave move by Mr Ferraris to fit the blinkers to a horse who has done little wrong to date.
With the field reduced to six runners after the scratching of Mannequin and Valberg, it was hardly surprising to see Sharp Design out in front early.
He led the pacy Gold Site, with Polar Moon, Chocolicious and Showmetheway further back.
Royal Zulu Warrior was always under immense pressure and when Juglall gave Sharp Design his cue at the 400m marker it was contest over.
Despite drifting towards the inside rail, probably due to natural unfamiliarity with the headgear, Sharp Design kept on gamely to beat a strong finishing Showmetheway by 1 length in a time of 55,97 secs .
Polar Moon ran third with the odds on favourite missing the Place Accumulator.
The Master. Trainer Ormond Ferraris
The 9 to 10 favourite Royal Zulu Warrior was never going well and was being scrubbed at all the way by jockey Karl Zechner. He ran a disappointing fourth.
The talented young Mauritian born jockey Nooresh Juglall dedicated the win to his parents and was obviously thrilled.
“ It was a wise move by Mr Ferraris to put the blinkers on. Last time Sharp Design didn’t travel and didn’t want to load either. But he came out tonight like a machine. That’s the way we know him,: he said.
Veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris, shrugging off compliments from Tellytrack presenter Julie Alexander of his legendary status as one of the country’s leading horsemen, asked the tanned on course presenter to stop with her accolades: “Don’t pay me so many compliments please Julie! Someone is going to dig me in the back at this rate!,” he joked.
Mr Ferraris said that his charge was a little strange with the blinkers under the lights and didn’t run as straight as he should have.When taxed on his plans, Ferraris said ‘let’ see how he pulls up.’
Owned by Ronnie Burg, the 4yo Sharp Design boosted his outstanding track record to 5 wins and 3 places from 8 starts.
He took his stake earnings to R395 500 in the process.
Sharp Design was bred by the Highflyer Stud and is by the recently deceased Klawervlei stallion National Emblem, out of the Fine Edge mare, Sharp Ledge. The latter won 7 races over 1000m.
The Gr1 Computaform Sprint is just around the corner!
Result:
Tommy Hotspur Hcp (SAf-G3) (2/12)
Turffontein, South Africa, February 12, R200.000, 1000m, turf, good, 55.97.
SHARP DESIGN (SAF), 52.5, b g 4, National Emblem (SAF) – Sharp Ledge (SAF)
by Fine Edge (GB). Owner RA Burg; breeder Highflyer Stud; trainer OA
Ferraris; jockey N Juglall (R125.000)
Showmetheway (SAF), 54.5, b g 4, Muhtafal (USA) – Nadira (SAF) by Nashwan
(USA)
Polar Moon (SAF), 54.5, b g 6, Victory Moon (SAF) – Polar Art (SAF) by
Western Winter (USA)
Margins: 1, 2¼, ¼
