Paulus wins his maiden at Flamingo Park
Trainer Corne Spies is the undisputed king of the Kimberley Nursery. Today he bids for an extraordinary fifth win in the R100 000 sand baby feature in six years and plays a very decent three card hand, headed by a King’s Apostle gelding that ran the race of his life in a Group 2 race on the turf at Greyville last Saturday.
Spies has an amazingly uncomplicated and relatively unscientific approach to the business of training racehorses. His ‘get them fit and let them run and take their chances’ approach has seen him rack up winners across the length and breadth of the country. And he sure delivers the results for his loyal band of patrons.
He will also be crowned champion trainer of Zimbabwe this season – but more about that in this weekend’s Sporting Post, where he talks frankly about the ins-and-outs of training racehorse North of the Limpopo.
Spies goes for his fourth straight win in the Kimberley Nursery – in 2014 he won with Topostwego – in 2013 Hawksworth won it – in 2012 it was Oh So Var- and in 2010 Indigofera galloped to glory.
That’s a helluva impressive record and his trio are bound to attract plenty of support, in a field of fourteen that lacks genuine depth.
Andrew Fortune – in good form
The engagement of jockey Andrew Fortune to ride Paulus from a 1 draw catches the eye.
Spies confirmed that this fellow’s run in the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Greyville last Saturday, when he finished fourth and 3,85 lengths off King’s Knight had thrown him a curved ball. No wonder – just five days earlier Paulus had run 16 lengths behind at Flamingo Park!
“ I decided to take Paulus to Greyville as he is fit and it made sense to take our chances – I didn’t expect a lot. But what a run! He was last turning for home – and full credit to Greg Cheyne for keeping at him and he responded with a good finish,” he said.
So does the booking of Fortune mean that he can be fancied to run a big race on Monday?
“Look, he won his maiden at Kimberley, but ran handily and fell away at his last start. The way he ran on at Greyville, he may just be a better horse ridden with some restraint. Andrew (Fortune) is the perfect man for the job then – but you know how it works at Kimberley – horses don’t really come from miles off them to win and don’t make it up,” he laughed.
Corne Spies – seriously good record in this race
Spies also sends out two fillies, in Nomvula and Guest Lodge – the latter was due to run at the Vaal on Thursday.
Nomvula was stakes placed behind subsequent Gr1 winner Entisaar early on – and won her maiden over 800m at Flamingo Park. “I am a little worried about her seeing out the distance,” admits Corne.
He suggested David Niewenhuizen-trained Dr Finley to be a serious contender.
The son of Captain Corageous beat the well-performed Malak El Moolook to win his maiden. His recent turf form in not that hot though and he has his first run on the sand. An unknown quantity.
S’manga Khumalo – rides for Jaap Visser
S’manga Khumalo rides the two-time winning Jay Peg filly Bizzy Peg for Jaap Visser.
Her lightly exposed sand form is good and she beat Zilnox and Lord Victorious at her last start and can hold them again.
Her stablemate Lady Oracy followed up her debut second to Paulus, by winning well at her second start.
Apprentice Callan Murray is riding well and is full value for his 1,5kgs claim.
There is little to enthuse about the rest.
Based on the stable’s excellent track record and Paulus’ smart Gr2 showing, coupled with the Andrew Fortune genius, he is the horse who ticks the most boxes in a shallow field and is selected to win.
