The Tony Peter-trained Pistol Pete is Buffalo Bill Cody’s only stakes winner to date and on Saturday, having won a Listed race as a two-year-old, he became a Graded winner when scraping home in the Gr 3 Betway Lebelo Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein under Kabelo Matsunyane (picture above taken by JC Photos).
The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred 113-rated colt beat the 99-rated mare Nettleton by a short-head. The lattter was 0,5kg under sufferance in the handicap event and Pistol Pete gave her 2,5kg.
It is interesting that he was given a high-ish 109 Ability Rating for the run by racing analyst doyen Karel Miedema, although that was below the 112 Miedema gave him for his seccond place finish to Greaterix in a handicap over 1100m in October.
That 112 is the highest he has given any three-year-old this season and no three-year-old other than him has achieved above the 107 he gave to to Chocolate Soldier for his win over the same course and distance on Saturday in an earlier race.
Pistol Peter did not have the best break, but was just off the leading line before quickening impressively at about the 400m mark to strike the front.
The strongly built colt was out of reserves late in the soft going, but despite fading just held on by a short-head from a surging Nettleton.
Magic Tattoo, Time Fo Orchids and Taxi To The Moon were next best, beaten 0,35, 0,60 and 1,85 lengths respectively.
It was the second year in succession Tony Peter had won this race as he did it with Rulership last year.
Pistol Pete is owned by Suzette Viljoen.
