The progressive Pathfork gelding Slim Jannie made it four wins from his six starts in the Eastern Cape as he powered home at Fairview on Friday to win the R200 000 Betway Insurebet Speedsters Stakes.
Scratchings reduced the Friday 1000m feature to just eight runners, but it was fast and competitive, with the 4yo gelding’s regular rider Smanga Khumalo getting Slim Jannie (3-1) home in fine style.
Smanga Khumalo has Slim Jannie in full flight (Pic – Pauline Herman)
The Collingwood Stud-bred gelding accelerated clear to beat the ultra-consistent 18-10 favourite Teatro by 0,75 lengths in a time of 55,73 secs.
European Summer (14-1) was the first fairer sex member home, a further 1,50 lengths back in third.
Slim Jannie left KZN a maiden winner, and has established himself as one of the speed leading lights in the Eastern Cape, with two wins on the turf and two on the polytrack, to take his career tally to 5 wins and 5 places from his 15 starts.
With earnings of R409 713, owners Adam Kethro and Clive Williamson are enjoying the rise through the ranks of the gelding that Hollywoodbets trainer Gavin Smith labelled ‘a horse that one can train with the eye’.
Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-sponsored jockey Smanga Khumalo was full of praise for the winner, suggesting that the 1000m was his perfect mark.
“If he races over 1200m, he tends to want to go too fast early. This was a good win today and he really is a lovely horse,” he added.
Bred by Collingwood Stud, Slim Jannie is a son of Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the one-time winning Rebel King mare, Good Rebel. He was purchased for R200 000 at Nationals.
Enjoy the replay here:
Kelly Mitchley joined trainer Alan Greeff with the trainer honours on the afternoon, courtesy of a double. The relative newbie is pacing it on the regional log behind Greeff and alongside Gavin Smith in second, with ten winners apiece.
The East Cape Racing Awards will be held at Fairview this evening. Watch this space for the results!
