The Tony Rivalland-trained Miesque’s Approval gelding Humidor officially lowered Gr 1 winner Kildonan’s 1200m Scottsville course record on Sunday and the yard said his long term aim would be the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.
The four-year-old ran off only a 77 merit as there was a year’s layoff between his debut as a three-year-old and his second start. He won his comeback run in good style in October last year and was given the maximum merit rating for a four-year-old maiden winner of 70. He followed up with a three length victory over the same course and distance in January which earned him a seven point hike.
On Sunday he powered into the lead from the off from a wide draw and his relentless gallop looked effortless. Anton Marcus only had to get to work in the final 200m and this bull of a horse had enough in the tank to keep the late charge of the Garth Puller-trained Fortissimo at bay. Humidor ran a time of 66,98 seconds, thus beating the course record of 67 seconds flat set by the Mike de Kock-trained Kildonan when winning one of the strongest Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprints of all time, beating three other Gr 1 winners in Mythical Flight, War Artist and Rebel King. Kildonan carried 57,5kg while Humidor carried 55,5kg.
It was also a fine performance by Fortissimo, who carried 61,5kg and had to switch and come around horses before charging at the winner. He was beaten 0,75 kg and ran a time of 67,11 seconds. Puller will be aiming him at a minor feature.
Humidor, who was bred by Backworth Stud, runs in the colours of Mary Liley and is also owned by IM and MG Horsfield, GN Cumming, I Deetlefs, AS Potts and Rivalland himself.
He started at odds of 9/10.
Rivalland revealed the horse had been lightly raced due to soundness issues. He apparently has a host of niggles.
Assistant trainer Terry Fripp said a race like the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap over 1200m at Turffontein on March 26 might be looked at in order to qualify him for the Tsogo Sun Sprint, which was formerly known as the Golden Horse Casino Sprint and is to be run on June 6.
The second favourite was the talented and recently gelded Sylvester The Cat and he wasn’t disgraced finishing 6,25 lengths back in fifth, considering he is a year younger than the winner and had to carry 60,5kg over a trip well short of his optimum. The probable most encouraging aspect of his run was jumping on terms, as he had cost himself with his starting antics down in Cape Town.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Humidor (Nkosi Hlophe)
