No. 1978
MONDAY 30th SEPTEMBER - THURSDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2013
ISSN 1023 / 6996
Undefeated. The Muhtafal gelding Mr Vindaloo has a perfect record over the 1000m at Flamingo Park, and is expected to go in again
FLAMINGO PARK 12:20pm (Monday) p.3
TURFFONTEIN
1:00pm (Tuesday) p.12
DURBANVILLE
1:05pm (Wednesday) p.23
VAAL SAND
1:15pm (Thursday) p.29
PINNACLE STAKES at Flamingo Park on Monday
T
With the only Flamingo Park Pick 6 run to date under the new no coupling rule delivering a handsome dividend to a few lucky tickets, interest in this coming Monday’s month end exotic is bound to be at a high. With nine well patronised and competitive races on the card, the successful search for a banker may end with Francois Herholdt’s mount, Mr Vindaloo.
he change in the popular exotic bet rules has elicited mixed reaction from punters. But let’s not fool ourselves. If you were one of the holders of the 1,72 tickets that enjoyed a dividend of R387 994,90 at the inaugural coupling free Monday 16
September Flamingo Park meeting, then you probably believe that the disposal of the coupled runner safety net is the best thing since off course totes and dual view decoders.
Cash Flush
Monday’s meeting at the dusty dome is thus bound to have even those
speculators who may have seen themselves to be above the rather common Flamingo show, dipping into their payday charged wallets and going all out to win a bet, that had largely fizzled flat with frustratingly small dividends the order of the day. The afternoon’s main attraction is a rather modest
R 62 000 Rugby 5 Pinnacle Stakes to be run over 1000m. Eleven speedsters go to post, and luck at the break and the ability to steal a march should not be underestimated.
Two Apiece
Trainers Sarel Von Willingh Smit and Vernon Rugg have a powerful two way coupling apiece and the chase for the first cheque should be a close one down the dusty lane. The Paul Barrett owned Mr Vindaloo has done very well in Kimberley, since the days he started out in Cape Town and was moved to PE. The son of Muhtafal won four on the trot at Flamingo
Park this year and is unbeaten over Monday’s track and trip. Francois Herholdt was aboard in three of his four successive victories. He was taken to the Vaal sand in mid September, no doubt with some Emerald Cup day thoughts in mind, but was found wanting when running unplaced behind the talented speedster, Maji Moto. He will be much happier back on this surface at his adoptive home.
Improved
Smit also saddles Mapoggo. The 4yo son of second Empire had four poor runs on the turf in the Cape for Joey Ramsden, but
has earned at all of his four Kimberley runs since. He won his maiden over the course and distance beating Beach Bar, but then was well and truly slammed by runaway winner Woza Friday at his next start. He could still have plenty of improvement to come and should not be ignored, despite apparently being out of depth on paper. Cont. p.2