While Richard Fourie was walloped with a R2 000 fine for exceeding the twelve-strike whip rule, Justin Snaith celebrated a feature double at Kenilworth on Saturday as Warrior nabbed the front-running Firealley late to win the R125 000 WSB Gr3 World Sports Betting Variety Club Mile.
Starting at 3-1, Warrior was a fifth first crop stakes winner for Drakenstein Stud’s four-time Gr1 winning sire Futura (Dynasty), when he won the first leg of the newly sponsored World Sports Betting Cape Winter Series.
An impressive winner of his two previous starts, the Ridgemont Highlands bred Warrior stormed home, under a determined Richard Fourie to beat the gallant front-running Firealley by a neck in a time of 102,54 secs.
Richard Fourie gets Warrior up to beat the pacemaker (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
Candice Bass-Robinson’s smart filly Marina (4-1) was not disgraced a half length back in third.
The winning rider was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) for misusing his crop by striking Warrior more than 12 times. Fourie signed an admission of guilt and was fined R2000. In determining penalty, the Board took into account his recent record in relation to this rule, the distance over and manner in which he used his crop, and the number of strikes (16) over the permissible level.
In a race of mixed fortunes for the national championship table topping yard, their fancied Hoedspruit (18-10) ran a 6,75 length last. The Stipes asked the Vet to examine this gelding and the top yard was asked to report back. condition of this gelding on his return to the stables
In his first meeting as a newly resident Cape jockey, Callan Murray won the opener with a powerful ride on Quick Breeze but had a tough time here with Adios Amigos breaking through the front gate, but managing to be restrained. The colt’s starting stall certificate has been withdrawn and he was suspended in terms of Rule 61.6.10 until such time as he proves to be tractable with a companion.
Winning duo – Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
Warrior was the second leg of a feature double Justin Snaith and has now won three of just six starts for stakes of R172 050.
Warrior was Futura’s top lot when sold off the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale and knocked down to Peter Doyle and Diane Nagle for R1,2 million.
He is the fifth stakes winner to have emerged from Futura’s first crop, which includes Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe victor Nourbese (recently sold in Mauritius), once beaten Bauhinia Handicap queen Sweet Future, and Zimbabwe stars Dindingwe and Diesel And Dust.
The second leg is the R125 000 WSB Gr3 Legal Eagle Stakes to be run over 1800m on Saturday 22 May.
The R125 000 WSB Gr3 Pocket Power Stakes rounds off the series over 2400m on Saturday 26 June.
A bonus of R200 000 will be paid to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs.
