Frustrating delays, technical issues at the start and with the tote, and inclement weather combined to cast a potential dark cloud over Saturday’s R300 000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage.
But the day turned out happily for jockey Nathan Klink, owner Vicky Veeramootoo and the CK Horse Racing Team, courtesy of the Moutonshoek-bred Stone Cold who emerged from the stampede to win at 40-1.
Nathan Klink steers longshot Stone Cold to victory (Pic – JC Photos)
With the Bipot rocketing to a dividend of over R14 600, and only eight tickets going into the final leg of the Pick 6, there weren’t too many punters smiling after the Cape Town-born Nathan Klink produced the 4yo Stone Cold (40-1) down the centre of the track with a sustained run to cause the upset.
The Dawson galloper beat the in-form Corne Spies yard’s Noble Striker (16-1) by 3,75 lengths in a time of 86,59 secs.
The topweighted grey 7yo Mardi Gras (25-1) was just under a length back in third, with Back To Black (20-1) completing a partly carried-over quartet
Klink, who was celebrating the 101st winner of his career and his maiden feature success, had his first ride under rules on 5 April 2018 and rode a confident race for Mauritius-based owner Vicky Veeramootoo, whose first-timer Cruise Control shattered the Fairview 800m record on debut on Friday afternoon.
The 2021 Grand Heritage was marking it’s sixth renewal, and the biggest upset in the unique race’s short history.
A son of the ill-fated Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly), the winner was bred by Moutonshoek and is out of the two-time winning Orpen mare, She’s So Cold.
The Hollywoodbets-sponsored CK Racing paid R240 000 for the gelding at the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale.
A winner of 3 races with 4 places from 14 starts, Stone Cold has earned R332 750.
OFFICIAL RESULT:
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | ||||
| 1ST | 20 | STONE COLD | C Dawson | N Klink | —– | 40/1 | |
| 2ND | 15 | NOBLE STRIKER | C Spies | R Munger | 3,75 | 3,75 | 16/1 |
| 3RD | 1 | MARDI GRAS | F P Habib | D Schwarz | 0,90 | 4,65 | 25/1 |
| 4TH | 21 | BACK TO BLACK | R R Magner | J Penny | 0,10 | 4,75 | 20/1 |
| 5TH | 25 | SUITED CONNECTOR | P A Peter | J Gates | 0,50 | 5,25 | 40/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 86,59 s | |||||||
| Tote Fav | 19 | FROMHERETOETERNITY | P A Peter | W Kennedy | 11,25 | 17/2 | |
