Trainer Jacques Strydom’s former Cape-based gelding Firealley has found a new lease on life and followed up his cracking recent success in the Algoa Cup with a fluent strike in the non black- type R175 000 Founders Trophy at Fairview on the polytrack on Friday.
The 7yo bounced back to form at his penultimate start when he won the Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m in October on the Gqeberha polytrack and showed his versatility here when claiming this win over the mile.
Well ridden by Marco Van Rensburg, Firealley (11-2) made his way through the field and stayed on strongly to beat the Alan Greeff-trained East Coast (9-2) by half a length in a time of 95,7secs.
It was a decent local debut by the former De Kock resident East Coast, who should not be long in winning on this showing.
Marco van Rensburg drives Firealley up the inside as East Coast (Richard Fourie) chases late )(Pic – Pauline Herman)
The Glen Kotzen-trained tote favourite Blackberry Malt (9-2) ran out of the money in a disappointing showing.
The revitalised Drakenstein-bred Firealley races in the partnership of Messrs Do Carmo, De Wet, McCrow, Puggia,Smart, Lorette Louw, the Money Talks Syndicate, SMB Insurance Brokers and the Strydom family, since joining the Jacques Strydom yard at the beginning of the year.
A son of Flower Alley (Distorted Humor), Firealley is out of the Irish-bred Galileo mare, Fire Spinner.
Originally a R275 000 purchase off the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Firealley has won 7 races with 14 places from 45 starts for stakes of R978 975.
He is another excellent advertisement for horses who may have reached their peak in major centres, being given another chance in the Eastern Cape.
Jockey Craig Zackey rode three winners on the day, whilst trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith both enjoyed a double.
The next scheduled racemeeting at Fairview will be held on Friday, 13 December.
