Brave And Bold to the fore

GEOFF Perkins probably has shares in more horses than he cares to count but winning makes it all worthwhile. Brave And Bold, who races in the Perkins silks, kept the field in the cold at Greyville yesterday coming home clear of top weight School Run and outsider Royal Rose to win the fourth.

Ian Sturgeon, back in town with Mauritius in recess, did the honours for Wendy Whitehead.

Prince Myshkin, a horse with “many problems” according to winning rider Anthony Delpech, took advantage of a blistering early pace, to rally from off the pace to beat Bagger Vance and Fantasy Art in the fifth. “He’s turned into quite a nice little horse,” added Delpech.

Nala, unbeaten in two starts over course and distance was the disappointment when sent out favourite for the sixth. In contention at the top of the straight, Nala folded tamely as Vine Street Star, returning fresh from a four-month break under an enterprising ride from Anton Marcus, kept running to hold a game challenge from top weight Vision To Kill who got everything but the kitchen sink from apprentice Ashton Arries.

Charles Laird, whose stable has been relatively quiet these past few months, pulled off a quick double as replacement rider Warren Kennedy led all the way on What A Poet to hold off a late challenge from Unbelievable Chad with Wild Wicket staying on for third.

The scratching of top weight Impala Lily at the start left the way clear for hot favourite Readyforyourlove and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s runner strolled to an easy win in the eighth and making amends for Nala’s disappointing run.

Gelding did wonders for the improved form of Met winner Whisky Baron and had a similar effect on first race winner Chicago Beat.

Gelding, blinkers and the poly track have brought out the best in Duncan Howells’s runner as he put plenty of daylight between himself and his rivals in the card opener. “He’s a different horse since gelding,” said Howells. “He’s a nice horse and I don’t think that he will die a one-time winner.”