Punters know all too well how tricky this game can be, yet even expert insiders can get foxed. After two moderate sprints at his debut and third starts, champion trainer Sean Tarry decided to campaign Warrior’’s Rest over further.

He did pretty well, running a close third in the 1600m G1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at two and clocked in five lengths behind Surcharge (renamed Yulong Prince) in the G1 Daily News over 2000m as a three year- old.

A couple years later, something must have clicked to make Tarry dramatically alter his handling of the gelding, as he made an inspired switch to campaign Warrior’’s Rest predominantly as a sprinter.

The move paid handsome dividends when the soon- to- turn six, sharpened up/blinkered son of What A Winter boosted his best score big time from 102 right up to 109 to clinch the G1 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m. In an exciting duel, he narrowly denied Ultra Magnus (s/s 109) with Kasimir (s/s 106) making late progress for third.

The Golden Horse was the quickest of the four sprints run down the Scottsville straight. Next best was Celtic Sea’s (s/s 106) last gasp lunge to deny Run Fox Run (s/s 105) and Singforafa (s/s 105) in the SA Fillies Sprint. She too was trained impeccably by Tarry, renowned for getting peak performances out his charges when it really counts. This daughter of Captain Al has compiled a brilliant CV winning important races in every major centre over a variety of distances.

Dennis Drier practically owns the Golden Horse Medallion, having won it multiple times – the veteran KZN conditioner is a dab hand with juvenile sprinters. He saddled the exacta this year as Master of my Fate colt, Tempting Fate (s/s 98) swept past Pray for Rain (s/s 95) for a convincing G1 victory.

Vernichey (s/s 89) did not need to go as fast as her male contemporaries but was still full value for her G1 triumph in the Allan Robertson – trainer Gareth van Zyl’s first at that exalted level! She is by extremely promising sire, Vercingetorix and remains perfect from three starts where she has shown qualities of both consistency and gameness.

The performance of very talented Capoeira (s/s 108) is worth a mention. Using pace- pressing tactics he got first run on them in the G3 Cup Trial to beat off the progressive Nexus (s/s 105) and deep closer, Sovereign Spirit (s/s 104.)

This Oratorio gelding has proved hard to catch right throughout his up and down career but when in the right frame of mind can tangle with them up to G2 level. Previously he’d clocked in a distant third to star, Hawwaam in last year’s G1 Daily News.

Divine Odyssey (s/s 101, has run 107) gave plenty of weight and a beating to runner up Marshall Foch in the G3 Jubilee Handicap at Turffontein on Sunday. The winner, (like Capoeira also sired by Oratorio,) has managed six career victories and really loves Turffontein, though he was only three lengths back in last year’s July at the tighter Greyville circuit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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