Brigtnumberfive shines up and overcomes another slow start
Tardiness at the start has cost the mare Brigtnumberfive dozens of lengths in her 14-race career – and probably her connections a lot of prizemoney.
Happily for them, she put things to rights at Turffontein on Saturday.
As usual, the five-year-old missed the break when the bell sounded at the 1600m gate on the Inside track and she got going a couple of lengths adrift of her 12 rivals. But trainer Roy Magner’s charge – starting at 28-1 – rallied to close the gap, before galloping on resolutely up the straight to claim victory in the FM 90 Handicap.
It was a determined ride by Dennis Schwarz, further boosting the growing reputation of the young apprentice.
Dressed To Impress started the race as the favourite, shortening into 11-10 after the race-day scratching of another fancied runner, Aurelia Cotta. With Waity Katie at 9-2 the only other runner given a winning chance by the odds layers, Dressed To Impress appeared to be the best bet on the card.
But the well-bred daughter of Pathfork, who had a win and two seconds from three runs to her credit, could not match the finishing speed of either Brigtnumberfive or Costa Da Sol as they flew up the inside rail from the back of the field.
Costa Da Sol (10-1) was 1.40 lengths behind the winner at the line, with Dressed To Impress the same distance further back in third. Seal My Fate (8-1) was some way back in fourth.
Brigtnumberfive’s was the biggest upset result of the day and helped the Pick 6 to a R433,096 payout.
The mare was the first of two winners for trainer Roy Magner. He also saddled Rebel Renegade (8-1) who claimed the last race under Francois Herholdt.
Mike de Kock shared the training honours with a pair of wellbacked winners: Hit The Green in Race 1 at 5-10 and Buffalo Bill Cody in Race 4 at 1-1.
Chase Maujean was the jockey of the day with a brace – on Exclusivity (13-1) for Dorrie Sham and Saragon (9-2) for Gary Alexander.