Fortress Of Fire went off the boil after a highly promising debut win in March last year, but he eventually bounced back and he is now a six-times winner, which included a Listed win, and after recording a hattrick on Friday he looks set to take on Graded features (Picture: Race Coast)
Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)
The Michael Roberts-trained Fortress Of Fire has always been useful but he came into his own when shooting home in the Tote For The Win Stakes that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday night.
Serino Moodley had to take his medicine from the outside gate in an eleven-horse field but expertly managed his way closer to the rail before punching for home with a clear run at the line.
William Robertson, hunting the 18th win of his career, threatened briefly up the inside rail but was soon swamped by the chasing pack.
Position Of Power and Lion Rampart pressed on gamely for the shallow end of the purse but were not match for the winner.
Cats Pajamas was slow out of the gate but never travelling well and trailed in at the back of the field.
Keagan de Melo deserted Klein Karoo to ride the late maturing Maphaka for Dean Kannemeyer in the eighth and the gelding denied a five-pound hike in the ratings to record his fourth straight win. Given a confident ride, Maphaka shot clear halfway up the straight and held off Masterofthedesert. and Klein Karoo who was a touch unlucky not to have finished closer having to negotiate a traffic jam before finding a clear passage.
Prized Possession put up his hand as one of the better three-year-olds in KZN when he put some useful opposition to bed in the Open Handicap restricted to three-year-olds over 1600m. He was rated 0.5kg behind stable companion Sensei Of Spin who had top weight but it proved no comparison as Sensei Of Spin went out of the backdoor in the betting and early in the straight after refusing to settle.
Well-fancied Reign Man was in contention halfway up the straight but could not match the finishing burst from Prized Possession and was overhauled close home by a faster finishing Deonarie.
There is a story behind every racehorse, some more interesting than others. Nothing Cooler fits the latter category as she came back from a 500-day lay-off that included a trip to the farm before being returned to race and winning the card opener. She suffered a leg injury after her second start and was retired to Leon Lotz’s Heuningfontein farm in the Karoo as a potential broodmare. However, she did not take to her coverings but her leg did eventually improve enough for Lotz to ask Gareth van Zyl to have another try with her.
As part owner Eric Budlander commented post-race, it’s not only Aiden O’Brien that can bring horses back to win after long lay-offs as Nothing Cooler led from the jump under Calvin Habib and hold off a game challenge from Chericherilady. Habib has replaced suspended S’Manga Khumalo as the stable’s first choice rider.
Roy’s Rani was sent out favourite for the second but blew the start badly, jumping out from a wide gate and never in the race from there on. Flickering Light made the early running tracked by Magical Spring. Flickering Light folded early in the straight leaving Magical Spring clear and was not for the catching as she quickly extended her lead to over two lengths from Sweet Smelling, Roy’s Rani finishing just out of the money and worth another chance.
Rugby player Eban Etzebeth made a slow start to his rugby career, the grey Etzebeth, who showed early ability, followed his example of a slow start but a change of routine, seasoned trainer Dennis Bosch has finally got him his first win as he shed his maiden in fine style in the first leg of the PA. The win was not to most punters want as he arrived at 66-1 but it was a second win for Habib as the grey came from well back to spread-eagle the opposition.
It was three up for Habib as Another Dream gave him an armchair ride in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Always travelling well as Periwinkle set a decent gallop, Another Dream came into the straight with a double handful. Money horse, Miss Twinkle tried to go with her but in vain as Another Dream put in a solid finish with favourite Swiatek, looking to lug in under pressure, saving a few Bi-Pot tickets.
Halloween turned into something of a nightmare for punters as 20-1 outsider Pretty Kara came with a late challenge to snaffle Hop Hop Spinnekop who had shot clear crossing the subway but was unable to hold off the challenge from Pretty Kara and Jeff Syster.
