Rejuvenated. The KZN raider Devon Gold carries a light weight and looks very competitive
KZN trainers have raided the Vaal sand with some success in recent times and Adam Kethro’s right hand man Gary Rich is expecting a forward run from the Muhtafal gelding Devon Gold in Tuesday’s topliner.
Handily weighted and fit, the return road trip so soon after his last start is the team’s only concern. The publicity shy Adam Kethro is based at Springfield Stud and besides his equine interests, farms cattle and trades in farming equipment.
Confident
The Kethro racing string comprises twenty horses, of which 14 are unraced and nine of those are 2yo’s. His assistant Gary Rich was upbeat and confident when interviewed about the prospects of their only runner in what is a rather tough looking MR 95 to be run over 1200m.
Rich, who trained for his own account for 14 years and worked for many years for the SA Jockey Academy at Shongweni and in Port Elizabeth, is a quietly astute horseman, who rates Devon Gold’s chances.
Long Road
Based in Mooi River, the Kethro horses travel the four and a half hours to Vereeniging by road on the morning of the race, and return home straight after racing.
“He showed us good work on the sand and was finishing just behind them on the turf down here. His first run on the surface just over a fortnight ago was a promising effort and he starts fit on Tuesday. I am a little concerned about travelling so soon after that, but he is a good traveller, so it may not play a decisive role,” he said.
Devon Gold is no budding champion as a three time winner at the age of six, but showed nice spark at his first try on the sand when losing ground before running on well for a 1,75 second over Tuesday’s course and distance to the Stephen Moffat runner, Storm Incoming. While up in class, he will be ridden again by the 2,5kg claimer Collen Thabana and comes in with a paperweight
Erasmus Trio
Leon Erasmus sends out a three way coupling, and each one looks to have a winning chance at best. The topweight Benbow finished a half length in front of stablemate Mogok’s Desire in the race won by Contador last time out. A versatile eight time winner, he is well drawn and very fit.
The younger Mogok’s Desire is 1,5 kgs better off with Benbow on their last meeting, and appears to have an outside chance. He has been battling to register a fourth victory and might be better on the turf. The grey Stavinsky is the third of the Erasmus trio and a course and distance winner. The son of Stage Call has a solid turn of foot and there is not much to choose between him and a horse like Hang Fire.
Strike A Light
Piere Strydom rides Hang Fire for Brett Webber. The Australian bred has a good finish on him, and having won on him previously,Strydom will know how to ride the son of Not For Sale. He warrants inclusion in all bets. Dominic Zaki trains the consistent four time winner Escape Clause.
He was scratched from his engagement last week as a result of colic, and needs to be monitored for wellbeing. In a small field of sand speedsters, we are leaning towards the lightly weighted Devon Gold to confirm the second phase of his new career, on the sand. He is selected at the expense of Hang Fire and Stavinsky.
