World Sports Betting Cape Town MET delivers undercard thrills
On a quality World Sports Betting Cape Town MET day undercard with considerable depth, RAINBOW LORIKEET (by Querari ex Nightingale) took out the Tsogo Sun Summer Fling Stakes (Gr 3) over 2000m after she was all out to hold off front runner, TIME FOR LOVE, who fought back with spirit.
Aldo Domeyer had RAINBOW LORIKEET poised in the box seat, then drove her to the lead. The 4YO filly looked to have things under control, only for TIME FOR LOVE to fight back determinedly. The margin of victory for Candice Bass-Robinson’s 5/1 shot was a mere neck.
SAARTJIE ran four lengths back in 3rd; in jockey Corne Orffer’s opinion she has “flattened out,” perhaps feeling the after-effects of a challenging KZN Winter.
MUCHO DINERO prevailed in the New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers (Gr 3) over 2800m. The son of Twice Over enjoyed being back in the Cape (trainer Justin Snaith explained he was never at ease on the Durban tracks during Winter) and relished the test of endurance.
Backed into 5’s from early quotes of 8/1, he was produced up the centre of the straight to draw off for a convincing score carrying 60kg. Aldo Domeyer steered MUCHO DINERO on the rail for much of the round-the-coursejourney before switching at an opportune time – a skilled ride.
Master of My Fate mare, LOVE IS A ROSE (20/1) raced handy and kept on gamely for 2nd. But TRIPLE TIME merely one-paced it into third to deny punters who had plunged on the grey, backing him from odds of 6/1 into 9/4. The 5/2 market competitor from the Highveld, POETS WARRIOR, lead for a long way only to cave in under pressure as rivals quickened past.
Many punters were left bemused and with lighter wallets after a procession of outsiders, I’M SO PRITTI (25/1), DISTING (66/1), SIDDELEY (20/1) and MIA MOO (20/1) triggered a R152 000 quartet dividend in the SABC Olympic Duel Stakes (Listed), a sprint of 1200m.
There was nothing flukey about I’M SO PRITTI’s win. The race was run at an exacting pace with CANDY TOWN scorching off into a different time zone before wilting. The fast improving Snaith Racing entry lifted when needed to win in hand and recorded a third score from only six starts. I’M SO PRITTI is a daughter of premier sire, Vercingetorix out of the Trippi mare, Pritti, and was bred by Maine Chance Farms, who made a real impact on the day.
In subsequent action, Andre Nel trained ZEITZ shot clear in the City of Cape Town Politician Stakes (Gr 3) over 1800m. The grey Vercingetorix colt, also bred at Maine Chance Farms, raced in contention and repelled all challengers down the long summer course straight, eventually drawing off after GARRIX tried to rally with a move on the bend. Jockey Serino Moodley’s positional judgement and expertise in the saddle was graciously acknowledge by Nel afterwards.
Aldo Domeyer, the jockey on the second horse said the pace could have been more fluent and is hopeful that GARRIX will remain a Derby contender (run at level weights) with a more testing pace.
NATIVE RULER, who had set the initial tempo before FRENCH FLAME briefly took over, held third.