A big entourage of joyful connections lead in Main Defender after he had won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes in scintillating fashion (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Tony Peter-trained star Pathfork gelding Main Defender is not overseas or on his way overseas, as has been rumoured.
His biggest fan and spokesman for the connections, Frankie Zackey, was positive about the season that lay ahead for the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner.
Frankie said, “The champ is doing great. He will be a better four-year-old in my opinion and is really looking like a proper racehorse.”
He continued, “Obviously we will be aimimg him at the Gr 1s, but unfortunately there is no race available for him until October.”
Frankie believes he will get further than a mile and explained, “The way he won the Horse Chestnut … and not forgetting it absolutely belted down beforehand and to be honest nothing went his way that day anyway … we don’t see any reason he should not get further than the mile and it is a no brainer to give him a shot at the Summer Cup.”
Main Defender won three out of four as a two-year-old, his only defeat being second place to Sandringham Summit in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
As a three-year-old he started off with a devastating win over 1450m on Turffontein Inside in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge, obliterating older horses on weight for age plus penalty terms by 6,50 lengths.
Frankie said he would likely start this season’s campaign by defending his crown in the Spring Challenge.
Then came a thrilling clash with the horse who had been built up to be his arch rival, Sandringham Summit, in the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein Standside. He exacted revenge on the Gimmethegreenlight colt, getting up by a short-head, although he was receiving 1kg.
Then came the drama on Betway Summer Cup day where he was due to run in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants, but he had to be scratched along with all the other Tony Peter-trained horses.
He was back at Turffontein Standside seven weeks later in January and despite carrying a 2kg penalty and being under done, and hanging in badly late, he got up by 1,10 lengths from the useful Barbaresco to win the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m.
He nearly came down in his next start in a Pinnacle race over 1200m after hanging in again over 1200m and crashing sickeningly hard in to Melech just before the line. He went down over his fetlock, but luckily managed to right himself.
It was a worrying incident for the connections, but he fortunately showed no ill effect.
He then emphatically proved himself top class in his next start in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
He had an awkward start in the Horse Chestnut.
Frankie recalled, “When he came out the pens he hit his head hard on the ground. That’s why Calvin was so out of his ground and racing wide.”
Main Defender was caught wide around part of the turn, but Calvin did then find a beautiful spot for him one wide in midfield with cover.
In the straight he was switched inside of horses as Princess Calla and Dave The King fought it out on the outside rail.
Main Defender found an exhilarating turn of foot at the 300m mark to reel that pair in and he then ricocheted away to win as he liked by 2,75 lengths. He hung in significantly again, but this time it was clear he was hanging away from the whip.
Frankie continued, “So everything never went our way in the race and then still to win like that was a sign of an absolute superstar.”
He not only won well but had a reigning Equus Horse Of The Year, Princess Calla, and a subsequent Equus Horse Of The Year, Dave The King, behind him.
Frankie added, “And another thing, take into consideration the downfall we had over that hour and 15 minute period, it was scary. So taking that all into consideration, the 2000m, we don’t see a problem.”
His Champions Season route was set to be the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall into the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup.
However, there was more drama ahead … as is well documented he had to be scratched from the Drill Hall after being shown to have an elevated TCO2 level.
Furthermore, he injured himself while being tested for a second time.
Frankie said, “He reared up and when he came down he slit himself hard at the bottom of his leg. So taking him back to Jo’Burg was an issue and we were limited in the amount of work we could get into him. It was not a major injury, but we had to ease off him slightly. Obviously you don’t want to overdo it, because he’s got his whole future ahead of him. So he went into the Gold Challenge slightly underdone, he wasn’t exactly spot on, and it was definitely not his run.”
The connections then decided to give him a rest.
Frankie said, “He had a lot of rest. We brought him back about two and a half weeks ago. We ran him in a little Pinnacle over 1400m and he had to carry 62kg and there was a 16kg turnaround from the Spring Challenge with Unzen. We had just wanted to get a run into him because keeping him in the box wasn’t doing him in any good, he wasn’t enjoying that. And he still ran an absolute cracker (1,40 length second to Umzen). But that was not the mission. The mission was just to get him out of the box, let him have a run, and bring him back, because there are just no races for him.”
Main Defender was spotted at a Cape Sale by KZN-based trainer Tienie Prinsloo and owner John Habib. He did not have the best legs and Frankie revealed, “He’s got an offset (knee), it’s a slight offset and it’s never, ever worried him. Soundness issues – we have never had one day’s problem with him.”
However, the less than perfect legs enabled Prinsloo and Habib to snap him up for a bargain R140,000.
Main Defender won on debut for Prinsloo over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
He was then moved to the Tony Peter yard because John Habib was advised by doctors to stop flying to races due to health issues.
After winning first time out for the Peter yard Gerome Nassif, Kevin Nassif and Mark Nassif became partners in the horse with John Habib and were immediately rewarded because he won the R400,000 Bloodstock SA Sales Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville in his first start for them.
The Pathfork gelding is going to be one of the big attractions this season and hopefully it goes without the upheavels of last season.
Main Defender was officially bred by Jagessar Ltd, who were the partners with Varsfontein Stud in Main Defender’s damsire Judpot, and he was born and raised at Varsfontein Stud.
Frankie concluded by saying about an overseas campaign, “He is not moving anywhere … for now anyway.”
