An impressive double puts us back on track!
African Pride, Hazy Dazy end the dry spell
African Pride (Trent Mayhew), showed a stunning turn of foot. (JC Photos).
The stable's long-time staunch supporter, Rob Macnab (headline photo with African Pride), paid a rare visit to the Vaal on Tuesday, 30 September. It became one of those wonderful days at the races that stick in the memory forever, not only because it signaled a welcome return to the winner's enclosure for Spies Racing.
Macnab owns a share of both Corne Spies' winners on the day - African Pride (Race 4, 1200m) and Hazy Dazy (Race 5, 1500m), and he hasn't enjoyed winners at the Vaal in several years. "I had to put my GPS on to get to the track," he joked.
Macnab is a member of Chris Brown's 'I Spy' Syndicate who owns African Pride, a most promising horse who showed blistering pace to win his Maiden. UK-based Brown launched this syndicate with a few friends from the UK. He is a keen racing lover who has led in a few winners on his trips to South Africa.
Apprentice Trent Mayhew was also delighted to get back on the board after an injury sidelined him for a few months. "I am pleased to be winning again, everyone goes through these spells," he said. "African Pride is special, a monster of a horse, perhaps a future champ."
Hazy Dazy, with Trent Mayhew up. (JC Photos).
The stable has always held a high regard for this son of Rafeef and Mina Salaam from Northfields Stud and Corne commented: "We felt African Pride was good enough to win the Grade 1 Gold Medallion as a Maiden, but we were on the back foot with all sorts of trouble with shins and a hoof abscess approaching the race, and he didn't jump that well. He had a proper preparation this time."
Corne added: "He's a massive horse with huge potential. He still needed the run today, was blowing a but afterwards, so he will come on in leaps and bounds. We're going to have a lot of fun with him. Chris loves his racing and I think there is a party going on in the Northern Hemisphere right now."
Trent rode a good race on Hazy Dazy (Act Of War), who was "green as grass" from the word go, ran across the track and still won. The apprentice tried to straighten her with his stick, but he put the persuader away and drove her with hands and heels over the last 100m, which made all the difference.
"I'm not sure why she ducked away like that, but she's still immature and a bit skinny, she has filling up to do and will improve," said Trent.
Corne pointed to the fact that Hazy Dazy won, 'despite herself', a good sign for the future. "I trained her dam, Rabbedoe. We bought her as a yearling from the estate of the late David Makins and she's been with us for a long time. Thanks to the owners for their patience."
Rob Macnab shares the ownership of this filly with Stergio Poriazis, Xander Spies, Vikash Sobaren, Dhiresh and Chantelle Dasrath and Diveshen Vauapuri.
