A coincidence of factors are at the root of the improved performance of the goodlooking Var gelding Kingsley, who arrived out of the blue at R68.90 a tote win in the fourth race at Kenilworth today. So suggested trainer Shane Humby’s assistant Ashley Bent who was called in by the Stipes.
Ms Bent, a former Cape based jockey, was questioned with regard to the formless gelding’s improved performance. The Pick Six was well on the way to a carryover after this result.
She said that the gelding had been better suited to the extra distance of today’s race and had shown improved work at home. In her opinion the quality of today’s field was also possibly weaker, which had accounted for the improved performance.
The Board noted her explanation and drew her attention to the rules pertaining to inconsistent form and confirmed that the future performances of Kingsley will be monitored.
Punters were thus dealt a double blow as the highly vaunted and well backed favourite in the race, Kentucky Bluegrass at 18 to 10, ran 10,30 lengths behind and was found to have suffered from an epistaxis due to an exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage. He was suspended for a period of 90 days.
Trainer Riaan Van Reenen will also have to explain the improved run of Shishangeni, who won the seventh race.
The Stipes were looking at the improved performance from Shishangeni today compared to the gelding’s previous race on 26 March 2014, at Kenilworth, over 1600m, when it finished 26,70 lengths behind the winner.
He was not perservered with then but appeared to be full of the joys of life today.
Van Reenen said in the post race interview that he hoped the Handicappers would not be stupid and realise that the horse was well handicapped. His explanation went on to indicate that the other runners were handicapped out rather than his horse being well in.
In the second race, Jockey Anthony Andrews incurred the wrath of the Stipes while riding The Night Away.
He dropped his crop at the 300m and was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.2, in that he was deemed to have ridden in an unprofessional manner.
Andrews got off lightly and signed an admission of guilt for the penalty of a warning.
The Pick Six pool of R999 183.73 was a carryover, to who knows when.
And winter hasn’t even started.
