Belgarion up for the trophy

Firm 9-10 favourite and Computaform top bet Belgarion scored a cosy victory in the Listed Settlers Trophy at Durbanville under a highly skilled ride from Richard Fourie to remain undefeated since being gelded.

After tracking leader Herodotus, Fourie expertly got this son of Dynasty to change legs 200m out and after that the result was never in doubt, although the gutsy runner-up was far from disgraced himself after being rested and gelded.

“The pace was on and I could win comfortably with him enjoying himself.

“He’s a serious contender for some of the bigger races this summer.” said Fourie afterwards.

And that completed yet another hat-trick for the likeable rider and Justin Snaith, after Yacatan and Maravilloso had won races 1 and 3 from the front.

Race 5 was priced up as a match race between potential Guineas candidates Macthief and Second Gear, but this MR 82 1400m Handicap was narrowly won by another promising three-yearold in Vaughan Marshall’s Path Of Choice.

He had beaten subsequent dual winner Viva Rio when winning his maiden, so looked competitively weighted here with 53.5kg.

A few ‘shrewdies’ saw the value as he shortened from 14-1 into 17-2 and like Belgarion he has won both starts since gelding.

A three-year-old filly who marked herself in capital letters as one to follow was Driving Miss Daisy, who won the final race in eye-catching fashion.

Eric Sands’ charge languished way off the pace from her poor draw in this FM 80 Handicap over 1250m, but cruised past them all in the closing stages to win unextended.

“It was a prep run, but she’s got a lot of class about her,” said Sands post-race.

The trainer before confirmed that her next appearance would be in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship at the end of October.

There was an alarming incident prior to Race 2 when debutante Shiny Shoes played up badly in the pens, delivering a few solid ‘punches’ to the head of plucky handler Alfred Mzonzi in the process.

Thanks to his skullcap he was taken to hospital with only suspected minor concussion.

And it was the final raceday for NHA secretary Brenda Bouwer, who is to retire after 29 years of service.

“I have loved this job, but it’s time for me to call it quits due to my health,” was her comment.