Old man Tevez demonstrates that he is not ready to call it quits

Ken Nicol

Tevez will turn nine at the end of next month but looked like a three-year-old as he cruised to a hands and heels victory in Race 8 at Kenilworth on Saturday, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m.

This 117-rated veteran was weighted to win, but has become a little unreliable in his dotage, and was allowed to go off at 9-1 as stablemate Dutch Philip was solidly supported into 11-10 from an opening 2-1.

Kingston Passage set a decent gallop followed by Olympian, Al Wahed, Nasty Harry and Dutch Philip.

The favourite move up to challenge with 200m to go, and briefly looked in with a winning chance.

But down the centre Tevez erupted through late under a confident Bernard Fayd’Herbe ride to win going away by 1.25 lengths in impressive fashion.

Nasty Harry just got second on the nod over Dutch Philip.

Candice Bass-Robinson was unsurprisingly full of praise for the plucky old warrior. “He is an amazing little horse who still enjoys his work. He will tell us when it’s time to retire.”

She also said that Dutch Philip will leave for Durban today, and will run in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint at the end of July.

Brett Crawford and Corne Orffer pulled off a swift double at Kenilworth as Grand Silvano and Magic Mary won two maiden plates, over 1600m and 2000m respectively.

Grand Silvano had to work harder to get the better of juvenile Potawatomi in the colts’ version.

Crawford was optimistic about the future. “He is now learning to race.

”He has had lots of problems but will keep improving. He has a temperament to die for.”

Magic Mary had cruised in by 4.50 lengths in the fillies’ event, and this daughter of Horse Chestnut clearly enjoyed her first run in sticky going.

Indeed the two easiest winners of the day were both by Horse Chestnut. Juvenile gelding Clouded Hill showed promise on debut, and was climbing all over them at the 400m pole in Race 3.

Grant van Niekerk was easing up well before the line, but still won by over three lengths, and this is definitely one to follow.

Picture: Wayne Marks ALL HEART. Tevez shows there is still life in the old boy as he flies past favourite Dutch Philip to win a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday.