Fire Attack makes a mockery of his 33/1 odds and romps home in the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery over 1160m (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Randjesfontein trainer Alec Laird had a fine day at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, landing a stakes race double.
In the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery over 1160m his Fire Away colt Fire Attack was up against the unbeaten Pistol Pete, who was deemed unbeatable and started at odds of 1/4.
Fire Attack had won his maiden over 1000m third time out and next time out had been beaten 3,25 lengths by Pistol Pete over 1000m despite receiving 2kg.
However, not for the first time a juvenile who had impressed with blistering wins over 1000m came unstuck in the Gr 2 SA Nursery over a further trip of 1160m.
The most reccent example before Pistol Pete’s defeat had been 35 minues earlier when his unbeaten stablemate over 1000m, Almond Sea, could only manage third in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery, also over 1160m .
Fire Attack did not get a great break under Diego De Gouveia and was second last early.
However, that enabled him to track over to the fabourable outside strip.
Pistol Pete had shown his usual good speed and kicked away at the 400m.
He looked to be on his way to making it four out of four.
However, Fire Attack began running on strongly on his inside and caught him 100m out, before drawing away to win by an impressive 2,25 lengths.
Mount Pinatubo (Erupt) caught Pistol Pete late to finish second.
Proceed (Gimmethegreenlight) and DantonfromSandton (Willow Magic) were next best.
Fire Attack, who is out of the well related Mambo In Seattle maiden Bonnie Beers, relished the step up in trip and looks to have an exciting future.
He went for R450,000 at last year’s BSA National Yearling Sale.
Bred by Applewood Trading (PTY) Ltd T/A Ndoro Stud, he is owned by Messrs G A Basel, G C Cornwall, L Clark & Canine Solutions CC (Nom: Mr D C O’Driscoll).
Alec admitted in the post race interview that part-owner Gary Basel had identified the horse at the Sale.
Later, the Laird-trained Global View gelding Rule Book came from last in the Listed 4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m to win by a neck under Kaidan Brewer.
The races were held in testing conditions and the first five home carried joint bottom weight of 50kg.
Rule Book ran off a merit rating of 90 and was only 1kg under sufferance with the topweight and joint best-weighted Nebraas.
Rule Book is owned by Grant Cornwall, who is also a part-owner of Fire Attack.
