Surf's up. KZN trainer Kom Naidoo raided with a smart winner.
A Pick Six carryover in excess of R739 000 told the true story of another tough day at the office for punters at the Vaal on 13 September. A successful raid by KZN trainer Kom Naidoo, a double by Fransie Naude and a moment of Piere Strydom magic, were the performance highlights of an otherwise entertaining day.
Ordinary midweek off-season type racing has once again demonstrated its pitfalls in respect of form reversals and muddling results. The starter also contributed his five cents worth to punter’s woes by fouling up the timing of the loading of the fancied Game Over in the sixth race, resulting in the Roy Magner gelding being withdrawn.
The Brazillian-bred Game Over returned from a short break after a gelding in June, to contest the sixth race. But his connections had to watch their hard work and cash go up in flames as he was loaded early instead of late and consequently lost his cool. His withdrawal was not only frustrating for punters but also cost the Tote valuable turnover. Should we hold our breath to hear whether action is taken against the errant official? Probably not.
It is baffling to believe that a world-class jockey of Piere Strydom’s capabilities has no regular support from the top yards, but he showed again why he is one of the best around when piloting the genuine Martinelli mare Polo to a gallant win in the Jackpot opener. The Stephen Moffatt-trained mare won her ninth race under a beautifully judged Strydom ride that saw her fight off challengers from a long way out to win the MR64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m. Shrewdly nominated as a tongue-in-cheek Horse Of The Year in August by leading racing journalist, Dave Mollett, she looks to be enjoying her racing and owner Brian Miskin appropriately said that she ‘looked like a two year old’ in the preliminaries.
Leon Erasmus and Louis Nhlapo celebrated a smart win with the consistent Homeside in the fifth race, an MR68 Handicap over 1600m. The gelded son of Indigo Magic has slowly edged his way back to a semblance of respectable form and he took off late to beat Thick As Thieves. Stephen Moffatt trained the runner up but had indicated that he preferred the stablemate Dallas Dancer. He got this one wrong though.
Stormin' home. Storm Surf seen winning his maiden at Scottsville.
Summerveld trainer Kom Naidoo has pulled off a few successful raids on both the Vaal and Flamingo Park, and he turned up with just one runner in Vereeniging this afternoon. His runner, the Roy Moodley owned Storm Surf, had shed his maiden at his second start a year ago at Scottsville but had struggled to make his mark on the grass surface since then. In a shrewd move, Naidoo tried his luck on the sand in the MR73 Handicap over 1450m, and his son of Kahal made short work of beating the fancied Indian Firecracker.
The final race of the day saw just one filly in the fifteen horse field carrying a full Pick Six winning ticket. Kinematic Countess carried a welter emotional burden for a few unknown punters and Gavin Lerena threw the kitchen sink at her as she flew late down the outside. She was no match though for the Dom Zaki trained Ibrox Park who improved again to win her third from ten starts and give Fransie Naude his second winner on the day.
