Tony Peter has only recently joined the ranks of fully fledged trainers, but he is fast making a name for himself.
Since saddling his first runner early in January this year, he has already visited the winner’s enclosure 12 times (at the time of writing) from only 42 runners, giving him a phenomenal 28,5 percent win strike rate.
This is the second highest strike rate after Joe Soma (29,4 percent) of all the trainers in the top 50 on the trainers’ log.
Son of the reigning but retired SA Champion Paul Peter, Tony seems to prefer quality over quantity, and with such an impressive strike rate, punters disregard his runners at their own peril.
Two of his runners at the Vaal on Thursday 6 April are of particular interest – Stratospheric in Race 7, and Napoleon in Race 8.
Both are owned by former champion owner Suzette Viljoen and were relocated to Peter’s Turffontein yard on the Highveld from Cape Town.
Stratospheric, who lines up in a MR 86 Handicap over 1600m, has won both his outings on the Highveld and will be aiming to complete a hat-trick.
He joined Peter’s outfit as a maiden after nine runs in Cape Town under the tutorship of trainer Justin Snaith, but has taken to the Highveld like the proverbial duck to water.
This is quite a rare feat as most coastal-based runners find it difficult to adapt to the altitude when travelling upcountry.
Denis Schwarz, who has steered this What A Winter gelding to his two successes, unsurprisingly retains the ride.
Napoleon is set to take his place in a MR 72 Handicap over 1600m. This Rafeef gelding will also be having his third run on the Highveld, but contrary to his stable companion, has found racing in Joburg a tough task.
He did have excuses in his penultimate when hampered by his equipment, and last time out just ran out of steam after leading the field with 400m to go.
It must also be noted that both those runs were over the notoriously difficult Turffontein Inside course.
Peter, an astute young trainer, has now decided to test his charge at the Vaal, and it seems to be just the right course and the right race for Napoleon – at the right time.
Clive Robinson
