Clive Robinson
The South African racing fraternity was shocked to its core on Thursday 8 September with the news that recently crowned champion trainer Paul Peter is quitting racing with almost immediate effect.
This was announced by The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) in a media statement without giving any further details.
Peter was not only crowned champion trainer for the 2021-2022 season which ended on 31 July this year, but also set a new national record of saddling 221 winners in the season.
Peter will relinquish his trainer’s licence after the race meeting on Saturday, 10 September, announced the NHA.
“As a result of the above, Mr Peter has confirmed that all his runners for the race meeting of 15 September 2022 have been scratched and that all racehorse owners have been communicated accordingly. The necessary arrangements for all horses under his care to move to other racing stables shall be handled in an effective manner,” reads the NHA statement.
Peter had entered a total of 29 runners for the meeting on Thursday 15 September at Turffontein, but with none of them being declared, only 75 runners will be going to post in the eight races – provided there are no further scratchings.
In Race 2, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m, the Johan Janse van Vuuren trained Second Base looks the horse to beat. Not only is it the highest rated runner in the field of six on 117, but it’s also a Group 2 and Group 3 winner.
This Gimmethegreenlight gelding does come off a rest and will be having his first run as a five-year-old, but he’s a class act and has scored three of his seven career wins on the Turffontein Inside track.
Back on home ground after his disappointing run in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, he is expected to show why he was rated as high as 122 a year ago.
He won’t have it all his own way, though.
Jaimala, from Ashley Fortune’s yard, is in impeccable form with three victories from his last six runs since being gelded.
This son of Flower Alley has seen his merit rating skyrocket to 98 from 78 since being gelded and it looks as if he has more to offer. With only 52kg on his back, he will fight all the way to the line.
Stuart Pettigrew’s Bold Fortune is another Group 2 and Group 3 winner who should give a very good account of herself after being rested.
She is the best weighted and has won twice over this distance.
Frontrunner Imperial Ruby, trained by Corne Spies, might find the 1800m a tad short while Outofthedarkness, stable companion to second base, might not have the legs to all the way.
Neither of the last two can be ignored, though.
