Matador Man makes them see red
MATADOR MAN, quietly fancied to win the World Sports Betting Champions Cup at the end of last season, reverted to one of his favourites courses and his favourite distance to put a smart field to bed over the Greyville turf mile yesterday.
Anton Marcus, who had another red-letter day, had the favourite well back in the early stages in this Pinnacle Stakes contest and came wide into the straight.
With Matador Man galloping freely, Marcus had little more to do than a steering job on Sean Tarry’s runner as he cruised home over three lengths clear of Seattle Skyline.
American Landing
American Landing, making his return to the track after a threemonth break, was running on well come the final furlong and this race will have done him the world of good when Brett Crawford stretches him over his optimum trip of ten furlongs and further.
Gavin van Zyl was warm in his praised for Perfect Peter after the gelding’s recent maiden win at Scottville and his judgement was on the mark as Perfect Peter made most of the running to beat what looked to be a smart Graduation Plate field.
Warren Kennedy dictated the gallop and Perfect Peter stuck gamely to his guns as he was challenged by raiders Affranchi and the unbeaten filly Nafaayes.
Perfect Peter
Affranchi appeared to head Perfect Peter 50m from home but Perfect Peter came back for more under Kennedy’s urgings to win a neck decision.
It was a tremendously game effort and on that showing a mile and further look well within Perfect Peter’s compass.
The connections of Red Chesnut Road turned down a lucrative offer after making waves early in his career but from there it all went pearshaped and Robbie Hill’s gelding scored only his third win in three seasons as he held off the game mare Dawn Calling in a driving finish to the second.
Dawn Calling looked to have his measure 100 m out but her condition gave out the last bit as Red Chesnut Road plugged on for victory under Marcus. It was a tremendous effort from Dawn Calling who had been off the track and is prepping for a crack at some of the Highveld features come their season.
Cat’s Legacy
Cat’s Legacy, a facile winner of his first crack at 2400m, appears to have found his niche distance although he was forced to work a lot harder in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap.
Crime Victim, beaten six lengths by Cat’s Legacy when last they met, looked to chase down the odds-on favourite who pinched an early lead at the top of the straight as Marcus made a decisive move around the home turn.
But the petrol gauge was in the red as Marcus kept Cat’s Legacy to his task to hold the veteran Crime Victim by a fast diminishing neck.
Copenhagen
Highveld raiders did not go home empty handed as Copenhagen, in spite of giving apprentice Luke Ferraris a difficult ride, prevailed in the opening leg of the Pick 6 ahead of recent barrier trialist and outsider Cruz Giovanni.