Suzette Viljoen’s top-class Pistol Pete produced what could be his gutsiest showing to date when he withstood a late challenge inside the final stages to win the R250 000 Betway Gr3 Lebelo Sprint at Turffontein on Saturday.
A gutsy win from Pistol Pete (Kabelo Matsunyane) as Nettleton (Chase Maujean, obscured), Magic Tattoo (Calvin Habib, yellow cap) and Time Fo Orchids (Rachel Venniker, orange cap) complete the quartet (Pic – JC Photos)
The final South African feature race of 2024, the Lebelo Sprint was the speedy colt’s first victory as a 3yo and his maiden graded stakes success.
Ridden with confidence by Kabelo Matsunyane, the Tony Peter-trained Pistol Pete (13-10) hit the front with authority into the final 300m after Mover And Shaker and Magic Tattoo had led the charge.
Despite taking pressure late, Pistol Pete dug deep and ran all the way to the wire to hold the low-flying Nettleton (7-1) by a nose in a time of 58,65 secs for the 1000m dash.
After playing games at the start, Magic Tattoo ran a cracker for third.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Pistol Pete was selected by owner Suzette Viljoen who paid R380 000 for him at the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale.
A son of Redoute’s Choice stallion Buffalo Bill Cody, Pistol Pete is out of the five-time winning Tiger Ridge mare Oklahoma Sky and has now won 5 races with 3 places from 10 starts for stakes of 673 625.
That brings the curtain down on what was an action-packed 2024 SA feature race calendar and we now look forward to the L’Ormarins King’s Plate raceday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 4 January 2025. Watch this space for those bumper fields on Monday.
