Whisky Baron is to seek compensation in Hong Kong next month after putting in such a disappointing effort in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan last Saturday. The Sun Met winner managed only eighth of 11, over nine lengths behind the winner Blair House and eight behind dual South African Guineas winner Janoobi who was third.

Janoobi (JC Photographics)

Brett Crawford said yesterday: “His work leading up to the race was exceptional and he had done a lot of it with Janoobi who ran a great race. He did get knocked about a bit but there are no excuses. It was a flat run and we were all very disappointed.

“He won’t now race on World Cup night but he will stay in Dubai and be flown from there to Hong Kong for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April.”

At Durbanville yesterday Rebel’s Burst brought the memories flooding back for Riaan van Reenen when drawing away from two furlongs out under Robert Khathi in the opening maiden three days after finishing fourth here.

Van Reenen said: “Thirty years ago in the amateur races on this course we would sometimes run horses twice on the same day and I can remember running one over 1 000m and an hour later winning over 2 000m with him. This one has had three days to recover so she can’t complain!”

Van Reenen, who trains in partnership with Carl Burger, has been having a quiet time in recent weeks and, like most small trainers, he is finding things difficult.

He said: “Many of the older horses have gone and others are taking a break. We will start running the young horses in a month’s time but the yard is small and we need support.”

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: Whisky Baron (Liesl King)