The world of social media and the multitude of Apps available on smart phones is making it easier and easier to keep track of what is current and TABgold.co.za have introduced a new feature to their on-line racecard called ‘Follow Me’.
Blatant advertising aside, it is a feature that dispenses with the old ‘Black Book’ that one often forgets to consult, resulting in many a missed opportunity.
So if you had clicked on Dunzie and She’s A Dream as horses to follow, you would have been in the pound seats at Greyville yesterday as both obliged in a fashion that suggests that you click on ‘Follow Me’ for at least their next few outings.
Dunzie was all over her rivals when making her debut at Scottsville but being something of a tricky customer at home, the stable was wary of what to expect first up.
“She gets herself into a bit of a state,” admitted Duncan Howells post-race. “That’s why she goes down with a lead pony.”
Bred and owned by long-time supporter of the sport, Knut Haug, Dunzie is obviously a quick learner as very little went her way in the race. Drawn wide, stable rider Keagan de Melo, hunted for the inside rail without success and eventually cornered three wide. “I didn’t want to be there but I had to accept my fate.”
But even from the draw, Dunzie quickened and pulled away to win as she liked from Alistair Gordon’s filly Prosecco, definitely a candidate for ‘Follow Me’.
Mark Dixon is never one to rush his charges, letting them find their feet before putting them to the ultimate test, but those that took note of She’s A Dream’s maiden win could not have been other than impressed and hopefully a few rand richer after yesterday’s performance. All went wrong on debut, slow out and banged about like a mini in a Durban taxi jam, she still prevailed, so the modest field she took on in the fifth yesterday was easy meat. Sat mid-field by blossoming apprentice Ashton Arries, She’s a Dream scythed through the opposition to win as she liked.
On the down side, it was a performance that will not go un-noticed by the handicappers.
“She’s progressive and will get further,” said Dixon. “But for the time being I’ll keep her to what we know.”
Plans? “No plans. We will decide tomorrow.”
Louis Goosen’s colt Zen Arcade is a runner in the Gr2 Graham Beck at Turffontein on Saturday where the Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile is feature, and his form got a timely boost when Ryker ran out a smart winner of the sixth. Ryker ran Zen Arcade to within a length over 1400m when last they met but showed a smart turn of foot over the Greyville short-cut to put a useful handicap field to bed in a matter of strides.
Given his turn of speed and pedigree, Garth Puller looks to have a useful colt on his hands. Possibly another for ‘Follow Me’.
By Andrew Harrison