With only two Flamingo Park racemeetings left this season, the race for Northern Cape champion trainer is heating up and has developed into a three cornered tussle. Defending champion Bill Human finds himself the ham on the sandwich between Tienie Prinsloo and Corrie Lensley.
Human walked away with the title last year with gross stakes of R2 576 288, beating Prinsloo by over R300 000. If one considers that an average first cheque in this region is just over R30 000, then we can understand how close things can get.
Corrie Lensley – snapping at the heels in third spot
Prinsloo (392 runners) currently leads the charge with stakes of R2 380 100, marginally ahead of Human (533 runners) on R2 214 425, with Lensley (411 runners) still rating an outside chance on R2 156 452.
Between the three they saddle 47 runners on Monday’s ten race programme, which is headed by a 1400m R69 000 Pinnacle Stakes.
The meeting could go a long way to deciding who will walk up to collect the trophy at a gala event on 5 August.
A competitive field of ten will face the starter in the topliner, with recent Michael Holmes Bloodstock Super Sale graduate Master Archer , an interesting Kimberley first-timer for Corrie Lensley.
Formerly trained Sean Tarry, Master Archer was original acquired for R1 million but failed to produce any genuine fireworks with 4 wins from 30 starts for stakes of R270 000.
He was purchased third hand off the value sale for just R35 000 and though winless in close on a year, his form could be good enough to rattle this lot.
Master Archer has his first start in Kimberley
While a tardy starter, he will be ridden by JP van der Merwe from a decent draw and will not lack for race fitness, having run as recently as Vodacom Durban July day.
Cliffie Miller runner Devon Gold has decent form and has been rested ten weeks.
The 8yo could win this at best and has a decent turn of foot,
Bill Human-trained Yesan Star was a shock course and distance winner last time and enjoys a 1,5kg claim courtesy of apprentice Calvin Ngcobo.
Prinsloo’s Samogan has had time to settle in – but needs improvement to win
That was a major turnaround from his two previous efforts and he must be watched for consistency.
Tienie Prinsloo saddles the Australian-bred Samogan, another former KZN galloper who has his fourth run here.
The son of Flying Spur is yet to show, but has the advantage of a rails draw and will be guided by Ryan Munger.
Kimberley’s biggest racing weekend at the start of next term will commence with the Racing Association’s Northern Cape Awards on Friday night, 5 August.
These awards will honour the sport’s regional stakeholders who have excelled throughout the season.
The Flamingo Park Raceday, to take place the next day, is the highlight of the Kimberley horseracing calendar.
The day is headed by the R200 000 RA Flamingo Mile and the supporting features are the R135 000 World Sports Betting Sprint over 1000m and the R100 000 RA Diamond Stayers over 2200m.
The races attract the best horses from Kimberley as well as a few raiders from other provinces.
Runners participating in the RA Flamingo Mile will be “auctioned off” with a percentage of the takings being donated to a local charity.
Fun
A host of children’s activities will be on offer the following day at the track, so it will be a fantastic day out for the whole family. Fully inclusive hospitality in the Racing Association facility is on offer at R450 per person which includes food and beverage.
For bookings please call Merle Parker at 011 683 3220 or email [email protected].
RA Members with runners in the feature races will be invited as guests of the Racing Association.
