The Zurnamer name and the familiar old gold and blue and white silks have been around our racetracks for what feels like four decades and it was good to see the Lammerskraal-bred 4yo Night Bomber crack his second win after some fringe efforts when he turned on the jets to win the R200 000 Winter Country Championship 1200 Final Class 4 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Louis Mxothwa keeps the pacy Night Bomber striding to win smartly (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Marginally a year since making his debut as a 2yo behind the enigmatic Hluhluwe at the same venue, the Brett Crawford-trained Night Bomber (6-1) was always in the vanguard and kicked clear at the 300m marker to hold off the year older tote favourite Lunch Money (9-2), who came out of the pack to chase hard.
Night Bomber was too strong and won a good race under Sporting Post rider Louis Mxothwa to win by 2,75 lengths in a time of 74,01 secs.
Lunch Money brought through the scratchings in a Bipot that paid over R25 000, while the well-backed Sooty (4-1) maintained his solid form, a further 0,30 lengths away in third.
The winner was no cheapie and cost Gavin Zurnamer R700 000 at the National Yearling Sale. A Lammerskraal-bred son of deceased Lancaster Bomber (War Front), he is out of the very accomplished Kahal six-time winner, Evening Attire.
A winner of 2 races with 3 places from 13 starts, Night Bomber took his earnings to R256 800 and could pay to follow.
