Choisaanada just holds on in the Sea Cottage Stakes to land the R500,000 bonus (Fire Attack’s nose can be seen just entering the picture). (JC Photos)
The Highveld Winter Series hero Choisaanada makes his comeback in Saturday’s Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m at Turffontein Inside.
However, the Erico Verdonese-trained Shadwell Stud-bred Querari gelding will need luck from a wide draw and will come on from the run ahead of his chief target, the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode-Onamission Mile at Turffontein Standside on November 1.
Erico said, “I haven’t set him alight for this race, but he is doing very nicely. He is a very easy horse to train. He’s very light on his feet, and I am quite happy where he is now. He hasn’t got a nice draw for Saturday’s race, that’s the thing. On the Inside track they jump and go, so we will need a lot of luck from out there, but he’s a very nice horse. He’s done the improvement I thought he would do and he’s really one of the better horses I’ve seen around. And another good thing is Callan (Murray) is riding him again.”
Erico thinks the tough 2000m of the Turffontein Standside track might stretch Choisaanada a bit, so is not sure whether he will put him in the R6 million Betway Summer Cup.
Instead he is going to target the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamision Charity Mile on November 1 at Turffontein Standside and then make a call on the Summer Cup after that.
Choisaanada is owned by Isabella Lombard and BM Jossel and he put them through the emotional mill on July 6 at Turffontein
He had won the firt two legs of the Highveld Winter Series and stood to win a bonus of R500,000 if he completed the treble by winning the Gr 3 4Racing Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m.
In the first leg, the Non-Black Type Betway Secretariat Stakes over 1400m, he beat the useful Immediate Edge, who ran in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, by a length when receiving only 2kg.
In the second leg over 1600m, the Non-Black Type 4Racing Egoli Mile, he faced another July runner, the Gr 1 SA Classic winner Confederate, and he received only 1,5kg from that 118-rated stalwart. Choisaanada made up a lot of ground to nab Confederate just before the post and win by 0,40 lengths.
In the last leg he was up against the Highveld Horse Of The Year, the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack, and he was receiving just 3kg from this 126-rated galloper.
On the plus side Fire Attack was returning from a layoff and was going to likely need it.
Callan Murray decided to go to the front after Choisaanada had jumped well from draw four and found himself caught one wide alongside the leader of the inside drawn horses.
Erico said later in the interview, “When I saw him in front I needn’t tell you what I was calling this poor jockey!”
However, Choisaanada seemed to be nice and relaxed in front and he duly found plenty in the straight.
By the 400m he was three lengths clear.
Fire Attack is known for his strong finish, but still had five lengths to make up when they passed the 300m mark an it seemed like he would have to much to do.
However, he then began making up the ground ominously.
Choisaanada’s stride began to shorten in the final 50m and Fire Attack surged at him.
However, the line came just in time and Choisaanada held on.
Erico recalled, “I thought he was going to win a little bit easier and then you could just see that other horse was flying!”
He added, “That was 1800m and I always thought that with a bit of time he would get a bit more distance.”
The big question is will he get the Summer Cup trip?
Hopefully the Charity Mile will give Murray and Verdonese a clue.
