Magnificent Seven fights back

Favourite Magnificent Seven lived up to his name in the Listed GBETS Algoa Cup at Fairview with a dramatic come-back short head victory.

In a thrilling run to the line it looked as if 45-1 Port Elizabethbased outsider Wild Brier was going to add further misery to punters’ already bad day.

Just when it looked as if jockey Teague Gould had done enough to get the outsider across the line, Richard Fourie on the Justin Snaith-trained Magnificent Seven pulled out all the stops and overhauled his rival with 10m to go.

Stormy Eclipse ran third for the second year in a row with Run Red in fourth.

Cape Rebel led for half the race with Desert Wisdom, Magnificent Seven and Querari Viking next best.

With 300m to go it was still anyone’s race as several runners tried to get their noses in front.

The closing stages produced plenty of excitement as Wild Brier seemed to have the upper hand and Magnificent Seven was fighting back for dear life.

Magnificent Seven, who landed his sixth career victory from 15 starts for Mr N Jonnson, paid R1.90 a win. Wild Brier paid R8.20 a place.

It is now nine years since a PE trainer last won the Algoa Cup. Jacques Strydom took the honours in 2009 with Surfin’ USA.