Social distancing protocols prevent old-style vocal or animated celebrations in our new world.
But the champagne corks were popping at the magnificent farm on the R44 outside Somerset West on Saturday as Avontuur-breds filled the top two places in the Independent Media R100 000 Gr3 Godolphin Barb run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Sean Veale has Tempting Fate in winning stride (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Two really smart 2yo’s, both out of Var mares and both saddled by Dennis Drier, the unbeaten Tempting Fate (Master Of My Fate) and the 10 length maiden winner Pray For Rain (Soft Falling Rain) blazed the Avontuur trail of glory with a sparkling domination of the 2yo feature – and both look likely to line up in the Gold Medallion on the 4th of next month.
Just 0,60 lengths saddled the former paddock pals as Tempting Fate (53-20) drew clear powerfully under Sean Veale to hold the gelded Pray For Rain (22-1) in a time of 61,93 secs.
The fancied Joseph Barry (2-1), third behind Erik The Red in the Cape Nursery, was a bit unsettled at the start, and was beaten 1,30 lengths back in third.
The veteran Mr Drier – we call him the Medallion Man – will bid for his seventh Gold Medallion this decade next month and he has some serious armoury to try and torpedo the Snaith and Tarry battle-ships.
PG Panelbeaters-sponsored Sean Veale said that he had heard about recent Listed Somerset 1200 runaway winner Erik The Red – but that he felt that Tempting Fate was the ‘next Master Of My Fate’.
Besides lambasting the shocking Covid-19 pandemic, Dennis Drier said that he had told owners Messrs Brian Airey, David Abery, Eric Buhr and Mark Currie that they had ‘something special’ on their hands, some time ago.
He thanked all his owners for sticking with him through the recent trying times and paid tribute to breeder Pippa Mickleburgh, who is General Manager of the winning breeders.
Drier trained both parents of Tempting Fate, a R550 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, who is now unbeaten in two starts and took his stakes bank to R114 375.
Stamped with his Dad Master Of My Fate’s flashy good looks, Tempting Fate is out of the super quick Gr3 winning Var mare, Miss October, a full sister to Gr1 winner August Rush.
Bring on the big gun visitors.
Saturday 4 July just got a whole lot hotter!
