J’s Outsider wins the Gold Bowl (JC Photos)
Apprentice Craig Zackey rounded off the biggest day of his short career to date when he steered J’s Outsider to a shock win in the R500 000 Gr2 Gold Bowl to bring the curtain down on the 2015 Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday.
Zackey had earlier booted home Arabian Beat to win the Gr1 SA Nursery and showed his aptitude and versatilty as he kept J’s Outsider to his task to win a good race over the marathon trip. A Gr1 and Gr2 on the day meant that it was his most memorable moment yet and he is bound to enjoy a massive confidence boost from the success.
The field was reduced to 13 after the scratching of Gothic and Apprentice Callan Murray took the lightly weighted The Barbadian up to lead Sky Rise and the favourite Kingston Mines, with Savage Wind and Lions Emblem further back.
The order remained the same but Murray upped the ante a notch at the 1200m as they quickened.
Into the home run Lion’s Emblem glided into the lead as J’s Outsider went after , with Heart Of A Lion looking dangerous.
Craig Zackey – Gr1 and a Gr2 winner!
At the 300m Lions Emblem looked a likely winner but Zackey had other ideas and he got Stuart Pettigrew’s gelding to put his head down.
J’s Outsider ultimately outstayed them with his handy galloping weight to beat Lions Emblem a length in a time of 201,21 secs.
The runner up is a gutsy stayer who will win again soon – possibly over 400m shorter.
Heart Of A Lion ran into third to maintain his consistent recent form profile.
The disappointment of the race was the 16-10 favourite Kingston Mines, who fell away to run 8 lengths behind. There was no obvious reason for his poor showing.
Former EP Derby winner Desert Swirl was another who ran a poor race. He was always last and never improved a length.
J’s Outsider was bred by Avalon Stud and is a son of Miesque’s Approval out of the four time winning Qui Danzig mare Zest For Spice. He was purchased at the 2011 KZN Yearling Sale for R120 000.
He took his stakes earnings to R509 250 and made it 5 wins from 13 starts – he has never run a place.
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Gr2 Gold Bowl (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 25, R500k, 3200m, turf, soft, 3.21.21
1 – J’S OUTSIDER (SAF), 52.0, b g 5, Miesque’s Approval (USA) – Zest For Spice (SAF) by Qui Danzig (USA). Owner Mr F Lottering; Breeder Avalon Stud; trainer ST Pettigrew; jockey C Zackey
2 – Lions Emblem (SAF), 55.0, b g 4, Lion Tamer (SAF) – Model Emblem (SAF) by National Emblem (SAF)
3 – Heart Of A Lion (SAF), 58.0, ch g 4, Seul Amour (NZ) – Action Lady (SAF) by Counter Action (SAF)
Margins: 1.00, 1.50, 0.30
