Owner Mano Pandaram and trainer Lorenzo Karriem savour the sweet trophy of feature success (Pic – JC Photos)
The brand new partnership of owner Mano Pandaram and Summerveld trainer Lorenzo Karriem enjoyed a dream start courtesy of the Rafeef mare Juliet Tango, who registered her maiden stakes success with an easy victory in the R225 000 Listed War Of Athena Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.
Formerly run as the Jacaranda Handicap, the 1800m feature brought the curtain down on the Highveld feature programme for 2023 and produced an R8 4467 trifecta dividend in a result that would have sent most punters running for cover.
The lovely grey 3yo Witblits started an 18-10 favourite and led the bunch for the first 1300m, before coming under pressure. She fell right away to finish ten lengths back.
Juliet Tango (16-1) had been making ground from rear of midfield and she built up through the middle outside before streaking through under Serino Moodley to score a convincing 2 length win in a time of 111,28 secs.
Serino Moodley steers Juliet Tango to an easy win (Pic – JC Photos)
Joey Soma’s Bellevarde (33-1) improved on her recent form to grab second from Bonete (6-1), who looked dangerous late in the race.
A former jockey who tried his hand in the stableyard due to weight issues, Lorenzo Karriem has worked under the likes of top men like Greg Ennion, Joey Ramsden, Charles Laird and Sean Tarry, before a stint with owner Mario Ferreira.
While he gave no indication what the plans are, owner Mano Pandaram did say that he had moved some horses from Paul Matchett’s yard ‘on good terms’.
KZN-based Winning Form-sponsored jockey Serino Moodley did the riding honours and made it a happy raid on his former hometown with a welcome feature strike.
Enjoy the replay:
A R210 000 National 2yo Sale purchase, the winner was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein and is by the top-class Ridgemont sire Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the four-time winning Jet Master mare, Jet Trail.
Now a winner of 3 races with 7 places from her 19 starts, Juliet Tango took her stakes tally to R417 375.
Mike de Kock enjoyed a good day at the office on his return from Australia, with three nice winners, while Muzi Yeni and Diego de Gouveia grabbed a double each.
