S’manga Khumalo salutes as Zambezi River storms clear of Brutal Force (Bay Media)
Gauteng trainer Sean Tarry looks to have a lively Cape Guineas candidate on his hands in the unbeaten Trippi colt Zambezi River who stormed to a rich payday with an impressive late burst to win the second renewal of the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes run over 1400m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The winner is owned in partnership by Chris Van Niekerk and Markus Jooste, and the latter made it a red letter day on the earnings front as he also owns the runner-up Brutal Force and the Gr2 Selangor Cup winner Act Of War.
Trainer Sean Tarry expressed confidence in his charge
Sean Tarry told the Sporting Post in an interview just a week earlier that if Zambezi River jumped on terms, he would go close to winning it and further underlined his confidence in his charge by suggesting the Cape Guineas as a likely target.
With that sort of top stable bullishness, Zambezi River’s joint status as a 9 to 2 favourite with The Captain’s Tune seemed rather generous and out of kilter.But that is a typical after-the-race observation.
The race was run at a good clip as Richard Fourie bravely took Greg Bortz’ Trippi filly Sunset Tripp out to lead the charge from the handsome River God, with Brutal Force further back.
In the early stages, SA champion jockey S’manga Khumalo had Zambezi River relaxed in midfield and cruising along happily.
Into the straight, Sunset Tripp and River God continued to gallop powerfully as Bernard Fayd’herbe angled Brutal Force out for what looked to be a match-winning burst into the 200m.
S’manga Khumalo – determined ride and a nice commission banked
But despite the fact that the Western Winter chestnut had grabbed first run on his field as he flew past River God and Sunset Trip and looked a winner, Khumalo wasn’t going away and he got the best out of Zambezi River who simply clawed his way into contention.
The Gauteng visiting pair nabbed the rampant Brutal Force inside the final 200m and went away to beat the gallant Ramsden runner by 0,75 lengths.
Zambezi River had shown the terrific turn of foot and acceleration in his two opening sprint victories and it made all the difference here.
Brutal Force produced a good showing given the comments from Anton Marcus and Joey Ramsden after his maiden win, when it was felt that he may need time to produce his best. It was Ramsden’s frustrating second major runner-up cheque after Red Ray had gone second in the same silks last year.
The Snaith’s Trippi filly Sunset Tripp was always in contention and showed up smartly to stay on nicely for third, with the Avontuur bred Argonaut colt also running a cracker to stay on well into fourth.
So who got the money?
Stakes were paid all the way down to tenth finisher.
Zambezi River – R1 million
Brutal Force – R400 000 (he picked up more than Legislate and Act Of War when winning their Gr2’s)
Sunset Tripp – R200 000
River God – R100 000
Peace Pact – R70 000
Jeweller’s Joy – R62 000
Imperial Gold – R54 000
The Captain’s Tune – R46 000
Shimmering Leaves – R38 000
Cat And The Moon – R30 000
Spare a thought for the poor PE visitor Clifton Surf who jumped from a 17 draw and was only shaded by a nose into eleventh position. He went home empty-handed.
Trippi – sired first and third
The joint favourite The Captain’s Tune, in the hands of Piere Strydom, could do no better than eighth, although he was only 3,80 lengths behind the winner.
Brett Crawford’s filly Alexis was also fancied to make a bold showing, but she never showed and ran third last.
A reflection of the competitive nature of the race was the fact that only 5,95 lengths separated first and last place. Not bad for a non-handicap.
Zambezi River is a Drakenstein Stud bred son of Trippi (who also sired third) out of the beautifully bred unraced Seeking The Gold mare, Margaret River.
He cost R400 000 on the Cape Ready To Run Sale.
He has won 3 from 3 and took his earnings to a cool R1,1 million.
We certainly hope Sean Tarry opts to stick around for a tilt at the Cape Guineas.It could be interesting.
