An interesting runner in Saturday’s Turffontein mainliner, the Gr3 Lebelo Sprint, which is also the final feature event on the SA programme for 2018, is Coenie de Beer’s 2015/16 Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars who has his 55th start.
After Talktothestars’ big Gr1 win
The gutsy Scott Bros bred ten-time winner has earned over R2 million in a distinguished career and caught the public attention when winning the 2016 Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint unshod at Scottsville under Piere Strydom.
He carries only 52kgs in Saturday’s feature, with his merit rating having tumbled from a career high mark of 121 down to 89.
His vastly experienced trainer Coenie De Beer, who races the son of Overlord in shoes these days, is on record making some interesting observations about equine footwear.
“There shouldn’t be such a fuss about a horse racing without shoes.Traditionally this is how they raced, unshod or at times with steel shoes. In the days before shoe declarations I’d say the majority of trainers raced their runners in steel shoes, then someone came up with a rah-rah around alumites and it changed people’s perceptions. There are racing fans who believe horses are only capable of winning when they are declared to race with alumites. That’s nonsense, they can also win in steels or without shoes altogether. Trainers have exploited this situation at times, but for me it’s about getting a horse fit and ready to win. I don’t consider shoes a factor.”
Open
WFA: 3yrs-4kgs
| 1 | 13 | Rebel’s Champ | 60 | 110 | BA | C Herrera Gomez | Paul Peter | |
| 2 | 2 | Down To Zero | 57 | 104 | BA | P Strydom | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 3 | 12 | Rivarine | 57 | 104 | A | G Lerena | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 4 | 11 | Captain’s Girl | Scratched | 56 | 102 | A | J Sampson | Louis Goosen |
| 5 | 7 | Pure Blonde | 56 | 102 | BA | R Simons | Alec Laird | |
| 6 | 8 | Prince Of Kahal | 54 | 98 | A | M Yeni | Roy Magner | |
| 7 | 3 | Clever Guy | 53 | 96 | TBA | M V’Rensburg | Stephen Moffatt | |
| 8 | 10 | Isphan | 53 | 96 | BA | *D Schwarz | Roy Magner | |
| 9 | 1 | Wrecking Ball | 53 | 96 | T A | J Penny | Grant Maroun | |
| 10 | 6 | Kissable | 52.5 | 95 | T A | S Khumalo | Paul Matchett | |
| 11 | 4 | Donny G | 52 | 94 | A | H v’d Hoven | Grant Maroun | |
| 12 | 5 | Great Shaka | 52 | 90 | A | R Munger | Grant Maroun | |
| 13 | 9 | Talktothestars | 52 | 89 | TBA | *K Matsunyane | Coenie de Beer | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (2,3) (6,8) (9,11,12) | ||||||||
The race will be preview in full later this week.
