Having his fourth run since gelding, and with his form on an upward curve, the Querari gelding Quantum Theory scored an overdue maiden stakes success with an eyecatching victory in the R250 000 Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
The first Betway-sponsored raceday on the Highveld saw stakes increased from R175 000 to R250 000 for the early season launch feature and produced some terrific racing, with Smanga Khumalo finding his form and booting home three winners, to take his season tally to 11.
The Bling treble was topped by a finely judged ride on the 9-2 shot Quantum Theory, who went in and then out, before going to the inside rail again to catch the free-striding Sheldon (5-1) and win by a half length in a time of 71,34 secs.
Smanga Khumalo gets Quantum Theory home to beat Gavin Lerena and the forward galloping Sheldon (Pic – JC Photos)
Texas Red (16-1) from the Robyn Klaasen yard ran a better race to boost the trifecta in fourth.
“I knew that Sheldon would have to be really good to keep that up in front, and Quantum Theory finished full of running. I’d like to tell my Agent Monty (Mariemuthoo) to stick with him. He’s a lovely horse,” added Bling, before saluting with his customary ‘whoop whoop’.
Enjoy the replay here:
Raced by Ian van Schalkwyk and Anton Marx, the winner is a Lammerskraal Stud-bred son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the eight-time winning Control Freak (Tamburlaine).
A R210 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Quantum Theory is a winner of 3 races with 8 places from 12 starts for stakes of R507 625.
Tickets for the R5 million Betway Summer Cup will go on sale shortly and the day’s theme is ‘Summer Reign’. A lovely touch announced today is that the Groom of every runner in the 2023 Betway Summer Cup will receive a cheque of R20 000!
