The Dazzler has changed hands more often than an Olympic relay baton but the 5yo son of Mogok looks to have found his niche with trainer Gareth van Zyl at Summerveld.
The gelding duly picked up a long overdue stakes icebreaker with a late swoop victory to win the R150 000 Listed Christmas Handicap at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday.
Easy to back at double digit odds in the turf mile feature, Donovan Dillon rode a perfect waiting race and took full advantage of some misfortune befalling the favourite Born To Perform, who would probably win the race if we run it again.
Donovan Dillon rides a cracker to get The Dazzler home (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
S’manga Khumalo made his move on the favourite at the 300m but, full of running, he was forced to switch his mount in for a run. This cost momentum and valuable ground and opened the door just enough for The Dazzler.
In a thrilling drive to the wire, Dillon steered The Dazzler (11-1) up the outside to catch the luckless Born To Perform in the shadow of the post – the winning margin a deceptive 0,30 lengths in a time of 94,9 secs.
Paul Peter’s Shukamisa (18-1) was a half length back in third, with Amor Adiente (16-1) a short head back in fourth.
Just over five lengths covered the ten horse field.
The Dazzler was having his third run for Gareth van Zyl, and by all accounts was not working up a storm.
He was purchased by the astute James Goodman for just R30 000 at the 2016 KZN Yearling Sale.
Goodman trained him and duly got him to win at 50-1 on his Hollywoodbets Scottsville debut in May 2017.
He was purchased by the Tawny Syndicate while still a colt on Goodman’s retirement at the Kiliminjaro Racing Dispersal Sale in December 2017 for R220 000.
He was then moved to Mike De Kock where he raced for Messrs Larry Nestadt, Mark Currie, Mike de Kock & J R van der Linden in partnership.
He subsequently underwent a windpipe operation and was also gelded.
Bred by the Scott Bros, The Dazzler is by Mogok (Storm Cat) out of Glamorous Guest (Northern Guest), from the dam line of Kolkata, Glamour Boy and Gaultier. The Dazzler is a half-brother to a five-time winner Hollywood Guest.
He races for Mr K Ramanah and has won 5 races with 12 places from 24 starts for stakes of R662 112.
