The Candice Dawson-trained Narrow Creek Stud-bred 33/1 shot Chronicle King was ridden to victory in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m by Muzi Yeni and was one of three Graded winners on the day for champion sire elect Vercingetorix.
He became the 22nd stakes winner for Vercingetorix this season and that must surely be a South African record.
Vercngetorix’s 22 stakes winners have won a phenomenal 31 stakes races between them this season.
Vercingetorix has now had 60 stakes winners in his career.
Jumping from a good draw of three Chronicle King found a handy position in about fifth position on the rail and ran on strongly in the straight to beat the favourite Malmesbury Missile by 1,10 lengths.
Tin Pan Alley, who had beaten Chronicle King over this distance on the Highveld by 7.05 lenths when they met on June 8, was beaten 1,60 lengths into third and was followed home by Aristocratic and Soldier Boy.
It was rough down the straight and the Stipes have opened an Inquiry into the incident in which the winner was bumped on at least three occasions and carried inwards by Tin Pan Alley, with severe interference also caused to Elegantrix as well as to Count Of Rouen and Charming Cheetah.
Chronicle King is ownd by John Finlayson.
He is out of the three-time winning Western Winter mare Written and has won two of just four starts and took his stakes earnings to R535 876.
He is the second son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) to win the Golden Horseshoe, with the latter’s champion son Cousin Casey, currently on his way to stud, victorious in the 2022 renewal.
Post race comments:
MUZI YENI : “He’s a lovely horse … an inexperienced horse. He had the least number of runs in the field and was his first time at the track. When I came out, I didn’t want him over-racing. I had to bear in mind that I was drawn well and had to keep my spot. I used my experience to hold my position. The pace was muddily and that is why the race was rough. I kept my cool. I rolled off the fence, tracked them as long as I could. Tin Pan Alley was looking for my run, but I was always there and unfortunately you can’t go when I was there first. I had to put the race to bed and needed the horse to do it. Candice had him tuned to the minute. I can’t thank her enough as she has a lot of faith in me … I ride all the big races. John Finalyson is a champion to me … he looks after me through my ups and downs. I’m grateful to be riding in these colours to win such a big event.”CANDICE DAWSON : “A big well done to John for owning and breeding this horse. We were very unlucky last time out … he had a bad run. We put that behind him, because he’s shown us a lot and just getting better and better.”