Now enjoying a rewarding secondary phase of his career, the former Milnerton-based Paddy Kruyer charge Earth Hour upstaged the Alan Greeff duo to win a thrilling second leg of the R80 000 World Sports Betting East Cape Poly Challenge 1400 at Fairview on Friday.
Well-weighted here, and an impressive winner of the first leg, Greeff’s smart 3yo Viking Moon started a 2-1 favourite. But after looming dangerously he faded late and was outrun by the Nel 7yo and his stablemate Marmara Sea (5-2).
Louis Mxothwa steers Earth Hour to a smart victory as Marmara Sea runs on late (Pic – Pauline Herman)
The top three finished with under 0,35 lengths separating them – the winner starting at 5-1 and enjoying a perfect ride down the rail to snatch victory by a quarter length in a time of 81,27 secs.
It was clearly a satisfying moment for Nel who has built his string up well from humble beginnings. He really is getting the best out of Earth Hour, who he said has a better attitude and enthusiasm than some of his 2yo’s!
The former champion apprentice jockey, and top yard assistant, had gone on record saying that the Poly Challenge consolation incentive of R50 000 was Earth Hour’s target.
“The Poly Challenge is his mission. I thought he ran very well in the first leg,” Nel said after his charge had run fifth behind Viking Moon over the 1200m last time.
The consolation bonus is to be paid to the connections of the horse that performs best in the Challenge. The condition is that the potential winner must participate in all three legs and win at least one.
Points allocation for the consolation bonus leaderboard are: 1st 10, 2nd 6, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 2 and 6th.
Viking Moon is ahead on the log but didn’t stay the 1400m and is unlikely to chance his luck over a mile.
The final leg is on 7 May.
Earth Hour was having his 44th start on Friday for a ninth win (5 of which have been achieved in the Eastern Cape) and 18 places, amassing stakes of R707 000.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the winner is a 7yo gelded son of deceased Maine Chance sire Lateral (Singspiel) out of the twice winning Western Winter mare, Olwana Olive.
Paddy Kruyer purchased Earth Hour for R400 000 at the BSA Val De Vie Yearling Sale in 2015.
