Chantyman sings the right tune
ATHLETES who struggle to breath are usually consigned to the couch in front to the television dreaming of what might have been.
On the other hand, racehorses that have difficulty breathing can often be surgically corrected. The mighty Jet Master an example.
He was superb up to a ‘mile’ beyond that he ran out of oxygen.
Chantyman is not in the same league as Jet Master, incidentally, both ridden by Anton Marcus, but according to Dennis Bosch: “If he could breathe, he would be a top horse. He’s actually a seven-furlong horse.”
Marcus, in a superb display of horsemanship, got Chantyman home in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap at Greyville on Friday night and was lavish in his praise.
“This is one of the most courageous horses that I have ever ridden.”
“I said to Dennis that he was wasting his time with this horse. He can’t get any wind. It sounds as if there is an anaconda in his oesophagus.”
I’m not sure what an anaconda sounds like but Marcus nursed Chantyman all the way to the line.
Taking the lead early in the straight, Marcus kidded to the gelding until it became obvious that Ishnana was threat. 50m out Marcus released the brake to get home with a neck to spare.
Ovation Award’s triumph in the sixth was not entirely unexpected by his connections but there were many reservations.
“He galloped with Zigi Zagi Zugi and lined him,” said Gareth van Zyl.
“But when he ran a dirty third, we weren’t all that confident anymore.”
“All the jockeys have been telling me that they feel something. Muzi (Yeni) rode him in the feature and although he finished far back, he still said there was something there. This was his third time to the course. The first time it was washed out, then he kicked the back gate and was scratched. When he lost a shoe on the way to the start, I thought he was jinxed.”
Ovation Award
Ovation Award quickened smartly on the straight to hold off Subtropical and Amor Ardiente, both not making any impression on Ovation Award’s lead.
“He’s still a boytjie (entire) but he has clear ability,” opined rider Warren Kennedy.
“He has his days. One day he works like a rocket and the next you battle to drag him up the straight.”
Little Audrey finally went one better in the Gold Circle Podcast Maiden, breaking a string of runner-up places.
Co-owner Dennis O’connor, on course for all three of those seconds, decided that bowls would take precedent on Friday.
Duncan Howells was a little concerned the Little Audrey would prefer the turf but Craig Zackey rode a confident race to hold off the improving Sweet Preserve.
Peter Muscutt, KZN assistant to Brett Crawford, is a man of few words, preferring to let his horses do the talking and he got the Marcus ball rolling in the first as Negma smoked home.
“She had some decent Cape form but she’s only a little thing, barely 400kg,” he said.
Carlburg, home bred by Verna Roberts and trained by husband Michael, caught most Pick 6 punters by surprise as he held off a late challenge from Tierra Del Fuego and Zgi Zagi Zugi.
“I though Ashton (Arries) gave him a peach of a ride,” said Roberts. I asked him to drop in, the last time a kid rode him and he bolted. I can’t say we didn’t fancy him, but I can’t say that we fancied him strong. Verna bred him and it’s good for the mare. Ideal World onto a Fort Wood mare. To be honest he should go a lot further.”