Bold Eagle stakes his claim
THE Gavin van Zyl-trained colt Bold Eagle cruised to victory in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein on Saturday under Anthony Delpech in what was the day’s most impressive performance.
There were also five other features on the card.
Bold Eagle provided Bold Silvano with a first stakes success in South Africa as a sire, although he is also sire of the Grade 3 Zimbabwe Guineas winner Flasher On The Run.
Bold Eagle
Bold Eagle, who is replica of his father, had impressed on debut as he found another gear late to win by 0,9 lengths over 1000 at the Vaal.
On Saturday Delpech was able to secure the favourable outside spot in the running after a good break from draw ten in the 13 horse field.
The handsome bay was not hard pressed to be in the leading line and when Delpech asked him the question at the halfway mark, a good kick saw him go clear.
His big action carried him to the line for a comfortable 3,5 length win and he remains unbeaten.
Royal Italian made it a one-two for sons of former Vodacom Durban July winners as he is by Pomodoro, who has made a good start to his stud career.
Royal Italian had a tough draw of four so did well to stay on from midfield.
Heavenly Risk
The first-timer by Var, Heavenly Risk, was receiving 3kg from the winner but after taking a bump at the start did well to run on from behind for a 4,5 length third with another first-timer by Var, Dewali, 0,25 lengths back. The twice-winning filly Mazari was fifth.
The favourite Van Halen showed good pace under a lovely action but faded out. He is not one to give up on though as he might have still needed it.
The second favourite, William The Silent was never in it.
The Listed Ruffian Stakes saw the hot favourite Miss Khalifa being found to be not striding out and she was scratched at the start.
Querari is having a fine season and his Mike de Kock-trained daughter Dagmar won on debut.
She was slowly way from a low draw of three and, after racing behind the pace, showed a good turn of foot when switched inward to win by 2,1 lengths, although the race was run in a 0,86 second slower time than the Storm Bird.
Another Querari filly, Urban Oasis, was second followed a further three lengths back by the pacemaker River Rafting.
Star Flyer was next best and the favourite, the Frankel filly Frankly, had no cover from the number one draw and ran a disappointing 7,25 length fifth.
The Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m saw the Dianne Stengertrained Crusade filly Covered In Snow recording her fourth victory in succession.
She showed fine cruising speed, sitting behind the leaders in the middle, and she then kicked well and found another gear to repel the challengers, winning by a cosy 1,25 lengths from Myfunnyvalentine and Frederico’s Dream, in a time 0,3 seconds slower than the Storm Bird Stakes.
Dagmar
Muzi Yeni thus secured a Listed double as he also rode Dagmar.
The Non-Black Type events were the Sun Chariot Handicap over 2400m for fillies and mares, the Egoli Mile and the Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m and they saw wins for the Erico Verdonesetrained Emerald Bay (Craig Zackey), the Stuart Pettigrewtrained Soldier On (Marco van Rensburg) and the Mike Azzietrained Mrs O (Weichong Marwing) respectively