Written In Stone romps home under Louis Nhlapo despite having not won a race for a month short of four years. (JC Photos)
The nine-year-old Brett Webber-trained Written In Stone was having his 89th start today and had not won since September 12 , 2020, but to casual observers watching the 1200m handicap event on the Vaal straight course he would have struck as a promising young horse to follow as he romped home by 2,25 lengths.
This horse has always struck as one with way more ability than his record attests to and although he may not have been the friend of the on-the-nose punter he has been something of a hero to place punters, because he invariably starts at long odds and on top of his four wins he has been in the frame 38 times and has finished fifth eight times.
He showed his ability once when coming back from a rest and running in a Pinnacle event over 1200m – he finished 6,50 lengths behind Hawaam and beat no fewer than five horses rated 100 and above home, although he was carrying just 50kg.
The solidly built bay is not the easiest of rides because he has a big action and in these lower merit rated contests the pace is often not fast enough for him to get into a nice rhythm.
Being covered up often does not always help because his stride then becomes cramped.
However, Louis Nhlapo gave him a peach of a ride today.
Written In Stone was able to use his stride in the early stages because he was covered up but not right on the heels of the horse he was in front of as that horse had jumped quickly and gone fast.
Later, he followed a triangle of horses, one ahead and two on either side meaning his stride was not cramped.
When he was switched to the outside he was still full of running and stretching out it was soon apparent he was going to win with ease.
He was carrying 54kg off his 54 merit rating and beat another nine-year-old, the Heinrich van der Westhuizen-trained Trippi gelding Jet Cat, by 2,25 lengths at starting oddss of 20/1. The 9/2 shot fancied Commander Of All was next best ahead of the 11/2 chance Southern Style and Tote favourite After Hours was next best and they were beaten 2,50, 3,60 and 3,75 lengths respectively.
