STORM WARNING!

The omens were there as an electric storm delayed proceedings at Turffontein on Sunday, with the Vermeulen family celebrating a courageous victory by their gallant 6yo Savannah Storm who held on doggedly to win the R175 000 Listed Wolf Power 1600.

Beautifully ridden by the Bryanston Auctioneerssponsored Ryan Munger, the 2021 Listed Drum Star winning Savannah Storm has maintained a consistent form profile and was always in the firing line with the free-striding Vanderbilt making most of the running.

Going into the final 200m, Raymond Danielson ranged up dangerously on Pyromaniac (10-1), but the talented Munger had kept something in reserve and Savannah Storm (8-1) produced a meritorious performance from his wide gate to win by a quarter length in time of 100,27 secs.

The pacemaking Vanderbilt (15-2) found extra to hold on for third, a further length back.

The tote favourite Paisley Park (3-1) never showed and finished over 11 lengths back.

The winner is trained by Phillip Vermeulen for his wife Jeannique.

The Riverworld-bred gelding is by the tough-as-teak Jet Master stallion Sudden Storm, who had a limited career at stud. The winner is out of the one-time winning Jallad mare, Slinky Jalinky and made it 5 wins with 4 places from 23 for stakes earnings of R406 000.

Phillip Vermeulen is on record in an earlier interview with the Sporting Post that he trains by the guiding principles of a fascinating book – Backyard Race Horse – written by trainer Janet Del Castillo with Lois Schwartz. The book describes how to condition horses naturally at home or off-track in one’s own environment. Without medication.

Earlier on the weather interrupted afternoon, the Silvano mare Flying First Class won the R150 000 non blacktype Allez France Stakes for David Niewenhuizen and Avontuur-sponsored Calvin Habib.

The next Gauteng racemeeting is on the Vaal classic course on Thursday 2 February.