Every now and then a race throws up a result so implausible that punters are left shaking their heads in bewilderment. Dharma’s 50/1 upset victory in the G3 Winter Derby was one such outcome that caught most horseplayers unawares.
Beaten nearly four lengths by Nexus in a Maiden contest in January, this one time winner with an official merit rating of 71 after a series of efforts in low grade handicaps was easily, and as it turned out, mistakenly dismissed as a no-hoper.
Jockey Antony Andrews produced the son of Royal Air Force, who obviously enjoyed the longer route, with a telling late surge to outrun fancied Nexus near the line. Majestic Mozart attained third after a troubled trip, stuck in the same finishing position as in the first two legs of the Winter Series.
Snow Report put a Nursery flop behind him to win the G3 Langerman. Finding Camelot raced handy with Silver Operator making a sweeping move on the outside, only for the handsome What a Winter colt to stride through done the inside rail for a meritorious score.
There were two listed events on the Kenilworth program, as well. Both winners were conditioned by Snaith Racing. Platinum Class (by Silvano) also made a rails run, (which seemed the best piece of real estate down the straight) to get past Shamrock Wind in the Ladies Mile. She may often duff the start yet is very talented on her day and won full of running. In the Winter Oaks, Duchess of Bourbon (by Duke of Marmalade) kept on after being produced down the inner to stave off Snaith trained companion, Fortune Flies.
Morning Catch (by Await the Dawn) won the KZN Breeders Million Mile at Greyville in a game display, fighting back after The Sultan’s Bazaar made a bold bid to get by. Differences between winning and losing in turf racing are often narrow, and this 20/1 shot, trained by Joe Ramsden, snuck home by only a wafer thin margin for the 625K bounty.
Next week is the Durban July. Wishing all the Interbet followers a fun-filled meeting, with. hopefully, a couple of inspired strikes to boost accounts. James Goodman’s long running and insightful podcast on Interbet will help towards compiling smart plays on a day of huge betting pools.