Petrus-R1.2 Million Debutante in Kimberley Race 2

Dave,

Just think how many bottles of JWB that could buy,and it's racing for a 1st stake of R25 000.And to top it all,it's 5,so they've had to feed it for a few years too.

True JAP all the best to the connections

In line for a 10k bonus if the are members of the RA .lol

as with many of pac miller runners he is drawn well..i hear a rumour the big boss might be at the track

Racing express, Jack Milner

"WILL you walk into my parlour?’’ said the spider to the fly. "Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy.’’

Those words of a poem by Mary Howitt could well apply to those trainers who will attempt to raid on Flamingo Park on Monday. It is the Northern Cape’s biggest meeting of the year and will see the running of the R200,000 Racing Association Mile over 1600m and R135,000 Flamingo Park Sprint over 1000m.

Newly installed national champion trainer Charles Laird, Gary Alexander, "Lucky’’ Houdalakis, Roy Magner, Kom Naidoo, Bennett Bulana, Sean Tarry and Barry Steenkamp are rare marauders at the Kimberley track. But like the fly being enticed into the spider’s parlour, these trainers will be wary of treading into Peter Miller country.

Last year Miller repelled the invaders with Lawful Leader in the Mile although Naidoo did cart off some of the plunder when Execute won the Flamingo Park Sprint.

Laird is taking no chances, though, and will arrive with extra ammunition in the form of jockey Anton Marcus. While finishing second to Andrew Fortune on the jockeys’ log, based on the number of wins, Marcus amassed a record R16.85-million in stake-money for the stable’s owners.

An astonishing 73.40% of his rides finished in the first four, a testament to Marcus’ skill. He is only carded to ride two horses at the meeting, Space Captain in the Mile and Cyber Case in the sprint, and both should feature prominently.

Laird also runs Crown Of Power alongside Space Captain, and the Saumarez gelding will be ridden by Paul Whitmore.

While the champion trainer has two strong candidates, neither has raced at this track. Miller, on the other hand, has a five-pronged attack, all of who are tried and trusted over the course and distance.

Space Captain, however, is almost certain to be installed as favourite and from No 3 draw, looks the runner they all have to beat. He has raced once on the Vaal sand and it is difficult to assess much from that run as he finished a 7.75-length third behind Cyber Case over 1200m, a distance short of his best.

He started his career with a 1.25-length second to Geoff Woodruff’s star sprinter Private Jet, before winning his next two starts. He failed to place in a couple a three-year-old features, notably the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes won by Mount Hood and the KZN Guineas won by Big City Life.

But he has scored a win over Disa Leader and perhaps his best start was in a Pinnacle Plate at Greyville over 1600m in June where he took the lead from the off and only relinquished it a stride before the line when stable companion Smart Banker got up by a head.

It was a similar state of affairs in the Listed Thukela Handicap over 1600m at Clairwood later that month when he paced it out with Mike Bass’ Road To Reason, who stayed on better to win by 0.50 lengths.

Marcus is sure to have him in touch from the off and that tactic often pays off at Flamingo Park.

Houdalakis sends out Fearless Gun who has shown a distinct liking for the Vaal sand track. He is not well drawn at No 12 and that will provide jockey S’manga Khumalo with a real challenge. Nonetheless Fearless Gun does have a touch of class about him and must be in with a shout.

Andre Kirsten will saddle E-Fuel, who is very close to Fearless Gun on their meeting at the Vaal in May. E-Fuel has the benefit of having raced at the course and fared reasonably well in finishing a 5.50-length third behind Pine Nut in the Flamingo Park Handicap over 1800m in February last year.

Tarry saddles Mystic, his only runner at the meeting. Although is set to carry the minimum weight of 52kg, he meets this field 2kg under sufferance. The six-year-old gelding is most consistent and rarely runs out of the first three. He is sure to be a big price and could provide punters with good Eachway value.

Crown Of Power disappointed in his last start when he could only manage an 8.25-length sixth to Sayadaw. He moved up well but then had nothing to come and faded out of contention. Unfortunately Sayadaw failed to frank that form when a poor fourth at the Vaal on Saturday.

Whitmore will also have to contend with No 11 draw and need luck in running.

Calculating the best of the Miller quintet will take a great understanding of calculus and statistics coupled with the prediction talents of the local sangoma. The form between them is confusing although currently In Awe is in top form.

Lawful Leader will be looking for a race double but he has not raced for 132 days and it will be tough to come back after a rest and concede weight to the field.

The Sprint could be easier to decipher and although he is carrying 5kg more than last year, Execute looks hard to beat. This is a horse who loves the sand, be it the Vaal or Flamingo Park. He hacked in by 5.25 lengths last year and there looks little in this field to trouble him.

Cyber Case has some ability but he seems to need 1200m to perform at his best and is likely to be run off his feet.

as usual the lazy way of racing journalism by making no effort to get views of the trainers or jocks on the wellbeing of their horses..we can all read a race card mr milner

Bettingworld had Petrus 9-2 yesterday.I see it's come into 5-2 now.Early birds catching the worms?

Well I see they also took the 5/2 and its now 15/10!

Bloody Hell gone 7/10!

Win,lose or draw - Who would want to take a short price on a horse which has clearly been plagued with problems?

First time out.
First time at the course.
Just about everything is 'first time'.
Yet still the victims voluntarily line up.

So much for it being a 'brain game'. I think most punters must actually relish the lottery aspect of racing.

Nevertheless - I wish the connections well. I would have cut my losses years ago.

How long does it take the RA to get the winners up?

Maybe they can send it to Dubai as an 8 yr old!