In The Eyes. Jockeys not pleased with the kickback on the Vaal sand.
A jockey complaint against the sand surface and a tragic breakdown marred the Vaal sand meeting this afternoon. With heady talk of polytracks and hyped-up racedays, it is a pity that Phumelela cannot get the sand surface in order.
The gallant Grey Poet made up lengths in the final 200m of the MR78 Handicap over 1000m and tried his heart out all the way to the post and finished second, before breaking down a matter of strides after doing the job he came to do. A tragic sight but the incident was sensitively handled by Tellytrack.
The jockey ‘complaint’ indicates an unofficial protest we imagine and this unanticipated disruption coupled with the tragedy that befell Grey Poet, ultimately led to the final two races being abandoned for concerns of visibility and safety.
The official Stipes Report comments: The start of race 6 was delayed due to a complaint by the Riders that the kickback was impairing their visibility and as a result their safety was being compromised. A decision was taken in agreement with the Riders to close and seal the track which was time consuming.
No Tears. Number six on the sand for the Argentinian-bred Mr Tobin.
After the running of Race 6 the Jockeys once again complained about visibility and safety due to the kickback, and the decision was taken to abandon races 7 and 8.
Despite this, we got through two fascinating contests. The Listed Highveld Sand Challenge and the Queen Of The Sand produced two great finishes and a glorious double for up-and-coming jockey Gavin Lerena, who is making a serious bid on the SA champion title.
This Argentinian is something special on the sand. Sean Tarry’s Numerous gelding Mr Tobin showed the character and resolve of a top sort when he fought on late to win the R200 000 Listed Highveld Sand Challenge.
Mr Tobin was up against it at the weights with the improving De Kock runner Emponoso Henn, but it was left to the latter’s stablemate Meadow Magic to provide the only genuine resistance in an interesting contest. Mr Tobin is now unbeaten in six starts on the sand surface.
Mr Tobin has won a total of eight races from twenty starts for stakes of R568 000. He appears sound and full of zest for his racing and must be considered an early contender for our richest sand race, The Emerald Cup, to be run in September.
Gold Medal! Mina Salaam stays on to win the Listed Queen Of The Sand.
St John Gray’s four year old daughter of Sarge, Formation, was expected to win the fillies feature, the R150 000 Listed Queen Of The Sand run over a mile. But after showing her usual lack of pace, she ran on steadily to capture a third cheque and rescued many Place Accumulator combinations.
Sherman Brown took the Daylami three year old Greylaami up to lead and she brought the field for home a good few lengths clear of the pack. Lerena was tracking the leader on the Roy Magner-trained Mina Salaam in the familiar green-and-white Bruss silks and he moved up smoothly to take a lead that was never relinquished. Raise The Bar ran on for second, while Formation plodded into third.
Mina Salaam was bred by Northfields Stud and is by the El Prado stallion Medaglio D’Oro out of the brilliant Complete Warrior mare Circle Of Life. Mina Salaam’s sire was once labelled the number one dirt sire in the world. His sire El Prado is a son of Sadler’s Wells. The four year old filly has now won seven her seventeen starts for R584 000 in stakes.
Footnote: Inquiry opened by National Horseracing Authority
Inquiry – Abandonment of Races 7 and 8 Vaal Racecourse – 24 April 2012
The National Horseracing Authority has convened an independent Inquiry Board to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of Races 7 and 8 at the Vaal Racecourse on 24 April 2012.
This Inquiry will be held on 4 May 2012.
