Tough day at the office for punters
IT WAS a tough day in the trenches for punters at Scottsville yesterday with many a favourite falling by the wayside and to make things worse, not even hitting the boards. Hot favourite Pearl Tiara returned some normality to proceedings in a sweaty finish but the damage had already been done in earlier exchanges in the exotics.
Not that visiting jockey Sherman Brown would have cared as replacement riders won three of the eight races with Ashton Arries rounding off a tough day in the last.
Callan Murray, (hip operation) and apprentice Luke Ferraris (injured foot) left Brown with two pick-up rides and he got them both home.
Euphotic and Podcast were the main fancies in the opening leg of the PA but both didn’t make the frame as Brown, replacing Ferraris, kept Marchingtogether going strongly to beat home Perpetual Flame and Stream Ahead for Gavin van Zyl.
Who Says
Brown replaced Murray on Who Says for Duncan Howells and in spite of drifting right across the race course to the outside rail, won well enough, finishing ahead of stable companion Ninjinsky’s Son.
The Australian-bred is an exceptional specimen but has had a myriad of problems.
A wind operation, gelding and lots of patience eventually paying off.
The Natal Carbineers Handicap was always going to be a tester for punters but 55-1 chance Warfarer was not at the top of many a punter’s list.
Down the field at his last two, Lezeanne Forbes had him in top condition over his favourite course and distance and he came home full of running ahead of Malinga and Ballymaine.
Linger Longer looked set for another upset in the fifth as she took a commanding lead inside the final furlong but Pearl Tiara and Palace Rose cut into her advantage with every stride to collar her just on the line.
There was a piece of paper separating Pearl Tiara and Palace Rose with the photo favouring the favourite.
The always consistent Ronnie Rocket finally got it all together for Pat Lunn in the sixth denying apprentice Jabu Jacobs his first winner as Roy’s Magic made a determined effort to challenge.
Falkland
Falkland pulled off a one-two for Brett Crawford as Corne Orffer got his gelding’s nose in front ahead of stable companion Pata Pata, second, third and fourth over the line all were racing in the silks of Mario Ferreira.
There is no substitute for experience when it comes to young horses and Wild Rendezvous, having his tenth outing, put the final nail in the Pick 6 coffin as replacement rider apprentice Ashton Arries got the best out of Mike Miller’s outsider to just hold the favourite Celebration Rock.
This was the favourite’s first serious visit to the track and was carrying 2.44 tickets into the last leg of the Pick 6.