Secret Dynasty lets it all out
PATRONS of the Track & Ball outlet, diagonally opposite the ‘Boshoff Street Country Club’ (Thistle Hotel) in Pietermaritzburg, have a standing joke. “Will Shine Up ever win a race?” Butt of the joke is longtime Shine Up supporter Ray Martinaglia.
He gets it from all sides from his mates when Shine Up runs, and he doesn’t even have a share, but many an owner would give their eye-teeth to own a horse who earns a cheque almost every time he runs.
22 place cheques in 36 runs is not a bad record, add to that R275 000 in stake money, and the seven-year-old Shine Up has more than paid for his keep. Doug Campbell’s runner was on the receiving end again yesterday as Secret Dynasty put six lengths of daylight and some change over him, but another R21k in the bank will have been more than welcome for his connections.
It was not the greatest of fields, but Secret Dynasty made no secret of his ability as Dennis Bosch led him in after a facile victory under Anton Marcus.
After a stuttering start to his career, Edge Of The Sun appears to have got the hang of things and reeled off his third win in four starts when getting home ahead of Real Vision in the eighth for Duncan Howells. This win should score Edge Of The Sun enough points to head the log in the KZN Summer Series, ahead of Ronnie Rocket and Roy’s Magic, the latter running at Scottsville on Sunday where he will be up against the Howells-trained Good To Give in the tussle for top spot and a bonus cheque.
Dennis Drier is in his customary Western Cape escape where he got his summer campaign off to a winning start last Sunday. For stable rider Sean Veale it’s a case of up and down and plenty of air miles but it was well worth it yesterday as Escape Club did the business in the card opener. It was a hard-fought win as poly track specialist O’Keeffe gave plenty of cheek but Escape Club kept up her exemplary record, this her fourth win from just six outings.