Karlo is driven out by Mandla Ntuli to win the Northern Cape Stayers Handicap (JC Photos)
Trainer Tienie Prinsloo saddled the first two home in the R100 000 Northern Cape Stayers Handicap run over 2200m at Flamingo Park on Monday, with the Qui Danzig gelding Karlo winning the race for the second year running. Prinsloo’s happy owner Reynier Gerber didn’t hesitate in baptising him the ‘Mike De Kock of Flamingo Park.’
Prinsloo is slighter in physical stature than the SA Champion trainer but he certainly churns out the winners on a relative level to what the real deal does.
His good patron Mr Gerber’s black and red silks are also regular features in the winner’s circle in the Diamond City and the man who appears to relish his racing(can we blame him?) banked a total of R82 500, as he also owns the consistent runner up and tote favourite, Sir Isaac.
The six horse race was run quite predictably with Cliffie Miller’s topweight and regular pacesetter African Gladiator playing the Pied Piper, with Karlo tucked up neatly on the rail about four lengths off the action.
Mandla Ntuli rode the feature winner
Winning apprentice Mandla Ntuli takes up the story:
“The plan was always to sit behind African Gladiator and he provided us with a good lead. When we came for home he drifted out and I took Karlo through down the rail. He stayed on well,” he said.
His stablemate Sir Isaac, who looks a few hands shorter than the winner, stayed on gamely a quarter length in arrears to run second ahead of African Gladiator, who was two lengths further back. It was a tough ask for the son of Modern Day at the weights.
The winner registered a time of 150,80 secs.
Owner Reynier Gerber was full of the joys of spring and labelled Prinsloo the ‘Mike De Kock of Kimberley.’
Trainer Tienie Prinsloo thanked Gerber for all the support.
“I am thrilled with this result. And I wish I was Mike De Kock. But at least I can just think like him!” he laughed.
Ryan Munger seeing double again
The 6yo Karlo started his career in PE and has plenty of mileage on the clock. He has won 5 races from 58 starts with 24 places and R358 575 in stakes.
He was bred by Geoff Armitage and is by Qui Danzig out of the four time winning Nissr mare, Kalaka.
The fresh faced 18yo apprentice Ryan Munger was the most successful jockey on the afternoon with a well taken double. That is his second consecutive Monday double and those four winners are great progress in a short career of just six winners to date.
Cliffie Miller took the training honours with a treble and he was also in top form in the winner’s enclosure.
