The first knockout blow to punters on the Championships Finale at Turffontein on Saturday arrived in the R400 000 TAB Listed Gold Bowl when the low-key 100-1 shot Taxhaven stayed on best to beat the veteran former champion stayer Nebraas.
Fresh off a hat-trick at Fairview on Friday, Winning Form-sponsored Malesela ‘Keratile’ Katjedi rode a well-judged race on Paul Matchett’s 4yo son of Erupt, who registered his second career success as the rank outsider in the ten horse field.
Taxhaven (Malesela Katjedi) takes the lead as Nebraas (Craig Zackey, orange/white cap) tries hard (Pic – JC Photos)Taxhaven is best remembered as the maiden who took his chances in the 2024 SA Derby, where he ran out of his skin and ended up a 3 length fifth behind Purple Pitcher, earning himself a 96 rating – and actually running to much higher.
Just months later, Taxhaven won his maiden by 17 lengths at the Vaal. He didn’t set the world alight thereafter, but showed a flicker of something when fourth (4,15 lengths) behind Dark Silver in an MR84 Handicap last time out.
On Saturday, Taxhaven, running off a 75 rating, had the last laugh and suggested his high-aiming connections could be eyeing a Gold Cup berth at the sunset of Champions Season when he stamped his presence at 100-1 to beat the 8yo warrior Nebraas (10-1) by a quarter length in a time of 214,87 secs for the 3200m.
The favourite My Soul Mate (33-20) was given every chance but was well beaten a further 5 lengths back in third.
Raced by an enthusiastic Graham Reid of Mind Gym CC, the Oldlands Stud bred gelding is by Erupt (Dubawi) out of the one-time winning Medicean mare, Road Tax.
Taxhaven is a winner of 2 races with 10 places from 24 starts for stakes of R472 000. Let’s see if he maintains this form.
