Flamingo Park hosted three feature races on Saturday. Lebeona won the RA Diamond Stayers in a runaway to complete a 9th career success. Cleverly procured by Leon Setaro’s Sport of Kings syndicate in KZN then sent to seek his fortune in Kimberley, the son of AP Arrow has thrived on the red dirt going a longer route. Not even 63kg’s could stump him as he comfortably saw off battling rivals.
Long-shot Sundari (speed score 89) had previously shown an affection for the Vaal sand track, but had been off form for some time not having won for 457 days prior to raiding. The six year old gelding indicated signs of life at his last start and built on that improved effort to stave off the consistent Jaguar, an improved Samogan and old- stager Kingofmountain in the Flamingo Mile.
One Cool Cat (s/s 87 +) has battled with soreness throughout his life, hence a record of only three career wins from 35 starts going into the WSB Sprint. Long ago he ran scores of 95 and 98 on the Highveld when his pins weren’t hurting, but overall he was testing the patience of his owner. Relocating to Kimberley did not translate into instant success, and the son of Tiger Ridge had only managed a few places prior to causing this 10/1 jolt. He made a sharp forward move in the centre of the track to get up in the last jump from outsiders Caribbean Bay (s/s 86) and Letdagoodtimesroll (s/s 86.) Even with favourite Vincente clocking in fourth, the quartet paid over 18K on a day of rough results and bonanza dividends.
Flamingo Park may be a minor centre and a tough one to make sense of most Monday afternoon’s with modest, inform horses taking turns in beating one another. But it adds variety to the domestic betting menu and provides a useful alternative for those horse’s that prefer the unique surface. For example, Red Special (s/s 91) was labouring unproductively in Jozi, but on Saturday’s debut in Kimberley suddenly won a lowly handicap quite impressively. Repeating that performance level will yield more wins there, so he is worth following.”