After pulling a shoe and having it refitted at the start, Sean Tarry charge Thunderstruck got the better of a ring-rusty Isivunguvungu to score a good win in the R250 000 Non-Black Type Winchester Sprint Cup, in the process setting up a cracking rematch in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on WSB Cape Town Met day.
Thunderstruck (Piere Strydom) get the better of a ring-rusty Isivunguvungu (Richard Fourie) (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A 4yo lumping joint topweight of 62 kgs, the still improving Thunderstruck (2-1) was relaxed under the master Piere Strydom and produced a powerful late surge to beat the accomplished 18-10 favourite Isivunguvungu in a fast time of 56,63 secs for the 1000m.
The Stipes objected on the grounds of interference against Bereave (14-1) running third, and upheld an objection of behalf of fourth-placed Mufasa (33-1), who was promoted.
Richard Fourie declared his happiness with Isivunguvungu’s performance after his 22 week break, and as we mentioned, the Cape Flying Championship is set for a vintage renewal on 27 January.
A BSA Online Auction recordbreaker at R1 241 000 as part of the Javett Dispersal some years ago, the Avontuur-bred Thunderstruck was originally acquired for R1 million at the BSA National Yearling Sale in 2021 by Form Bloodstock.
Bred by Avontuur, the Gr1 winning Thunderstruck is a son of Ridgemont champion Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the five-time winning Gr2 winner Varikate (Var).
He has now won two on the trot and a total of 5 races with 6 places from his 14 starts for stakes of R1 200 688.
Enjoy the replay:
