Undefeated. The Muhtafal gelding Mr Vindaloo has a perfect record over the 1000m at Flamingo Park, and is expected to go in again
With the only Flamingo Park Pick 6 run to date under the new no coupling rule delivering a handsome dividend to a few lucky tickets, interest in this coming Monday’s month end exotic is bound to be at a high. With nine well patronised and competitive races on the card, the successful search for a banker may end with Francois Herholdt’s mount, Mr Vindaloo.
The change in the popular exotic bet rules has elicited mixed reaction from punters. But let’s not fool ourselves. If you were one of the holders of the 1,72 tickets that enjoyed a dividend of R387 994,90 at the inaugural coupling free Monday 16 September Flamingo Park meeting, then you probably believe that the disposal of the coupled runner safety net is the best thing since off course totes and dual view decoders.
Cash Flush
Monday’s meeting at the dusty dome is thus bound to have even those speculators who may have seen themselves to be above the rather common Flamingo show, dipping into their payday charged wallets and going all out to win a bet, that had largely fizzled flat with frustratingly small dividends the order of the day.
The afternoon’s main attraction is a rather modest R 62 000 Rugby 5 Pinnacle Stakes to be run over 1000m. Eleven speedsters go to post, and luck at the break and the ability to steal a march should not be underestimated.
Two Apiece
Trainers Sarel Von Willingh Smit and Vernon Rugg have a powerful two way coupling apiece and the chase for the first cheque should be a close one down the dusty lane. The Paul Barrett owned Mr Vindaloo has done very well in Kimberley, since the days he started out in Cape Town and was moved to PE. The son of Muhtafal won four on the trot at Flamingo Park this year and is unbeaten over Monday’s track and trip. Francois Herholdt was aboard in three of his four successive victories.
He was taken to the Vaal sand in mid September, no doubt with some Emerald Cup day thoughts in mind, but was found wanting when running unplaced behind the talented speedster, Maji Moto. He will be much happier back on this surface at his adoptive home.
Improved
Smit also saddles Mapoggo. The 4yo son of second Empire had four poor runs on the turf in the Cape for Joey Ramsden, but has earned at all of his four Kimberley runs since. He won his maiden over the course and distance beating Beach Bar, but then was well and truly slammed by runaway winner Woza Friday at his next start. He could still have plenty of improvement to come and should not be ignored, despite apparently being out of depth on paper.
Rugg Duo
Vernon Rugg’s duo of Varsity Star and Boston Legal will both have their supporters. Varsity Star is a consistent placer over this trip and has the blinkers fitted to get him into things earlier and maybe grab that all important length or two.
On paper, Mr Vindaloo has him held and generally finishes in front of him. They meet on level weight terms here, and if we factor in the unknown potentially positive impact of the blinkers, and the fact that Varsity Star did not travel out of province (like his opponent) recently, then they may not be a lot to choose between them.
Pacy Sort
Jockey Sherman Brown has made a quiet start to the new season, but rode a winner (Night Landing) for Vernon Rugg at the previous meeting down here. He rides the pacy Right Approach gelding Boston Legal, who is another that seems held by Mr Vindaloo. Boston Legal tends to always find something to beat him, but is very capable of causing the upset.
Corne Spies trains Captain Al’s daughter Princess Alberta, who has a habit of popping down to Kimberley to win a race every so often. She has won her last two raids here, but that was against her own sex and this will be much tougher.
Jaap Visser
Champion Northern Cape trainer Jaap Visser sends out the Summerhill Stud bred six year old Bezrin gelding Memghar, who was formerly trained by Leon Erasmus. The gelding has only managed one win at his nine Kimberley outings and is another who tends towards inconsistency.
Tienie’s Trio
Tienie Prinsloo is represented by a three way coupling of Sudden Surprise, Derbaas and the old boy, Blue Nile. The 7yo Fanatic Dane gelding Blue Nile ran poorly at his first start in Kimberley in mid September, but has enough previous Gauteng form flashes to prove competitive for at least a place.
The four time winning Windrush gelding Wind At Your Back is a course and distance winner, but appears to have lost his form recently and needs to improve plenty to feature here.
PE trainer Grant Paddock pays a rare visit to Kimberley, and saddles the formless former De Kock runner, Up And Running, for staunch owner, Bruce Ferreira. The son of Tiger Ridge was rated highly at one stage of his career, and tries blinkers and the sand for the first time. He could be anything!
Banker
On a tough programme, Mr Vindaloo may carry many hopes as a Pick 6 banker. He should be good enough to win this as a fellow who is perfectly suited to the test. There is a nagging doubt in the back of the mind that he is caught for pace early and needs to pick up his feet late on.
Francois Herholdt knows him well and he has many of the opposition held in any event. They would either need to improve or get lucky to overpower him.
