Alec Laird has had a fine Highveld season and the cherry on the top happened on Saturday night when his three-year-old Fire Away colt Fire Attack walked away with three awards at the Highveld Feature Season Awards, including the coveted Horse Of The Season award.
Fire Away, who won the Gr 2 SA Nursery last season, started off his season with a 1,50 sixth place finish in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m in which he was giving 2kg to the rest of the field.
He then ran a 3,20 length fifth in a Graduation Plate over 1400m, so was not looking like a Horse Of The Season at that stage.
However, he then ran three seconds in a row in the Gr 2 Betway Dingaans over 1600m, the Gr 3 Betway Got The Geenlight Stakes over 1400m and the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m.
There was still no inkling of him being a Horse Of The Season.
However, his season culminated in a magnificent win in an open Gr 1 weight for age event, the HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m, in which he just pipped the dual Gr 1 winner Royal Victory under a fine ride by Richard Fourie.
Fire Attack was bred by Applewood Trading (Pty) Ltd T/A Ndoro Stud and is owned by Messrs Gary A Basel, Grant C Cornwall, Lance Clark & Canine Solutions CC (Nom: Mr D C O’Driscoll).
He was purchased for R450,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale.
KZN-based Grant Cornwall made the speech on behalf of the connections and spoke of how “incredible” it was to him to have won such an award having been an owner for some twenty years, who had become used to minimal success such as winning the odd Maiden Plate or low grade handicap. The turning point came when Gary Basel sat down with himself and Lance Clark and formed a buying strategy aimed at landing bigger races and this saw Grant replacing punting with becoming a more serious owner. Alec Laird was central to their plans and it has culminated in a dream season for the three aforementioned owners as they also are part-owners in the Laird-trained Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch. That means they landed both of Johannesburg’s biggest races. Atticus Finch will also give Grant a probable first runner in South Africas biggest race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, so that will be another momentous “pinch me” kind of day, especially considering he has a box at Hollywoodbets Greyville. There are more horses to follow for the partners with the like of Laird-trained two-year-old Erik The Red gelding Tenjiku looking promising, among others. It is dream times for “Big Guy”,whom Grant is popularly known as in KZN golfing, social and sporting circles and it is also wonderful to see the Laird name back in lights. Grant spoke highly of Alec in his speech saying, “He learnt from the best and is the best.”
All The Highveld Feature Season Award winners:Equine Award Winners:
Champion 2yo Filly Green Diamond
Champion 2yo Colt/Gelding Esteemed
Champion 3yo Filly Fiery Pegasus
Champion 3yo Colt/Gelding Fire Attack
Champion Older Filly/Mare White Pearl
Champion Older Horse William Robertson
Champion Sprinter William Robertson
Champion 1400-1600 Cosmic Speed
Champion Middle Distance 1800-2000 Fire Attack
Champion Stayer 2400+Legend Of Arthur
2025 Horse Of The Season Fire Attack
Human Award Winners:
Champion Work Rider Phenisile Mongqawa
Champion Apprentice Trent Mayhew
Champion Breeder of the Season Varsfontein Stud
Champion Owner of the SeasonDrakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)
Champion Jockey of the Season Gavin Lerena
Champion Trainer of the Season Sean Tarry
