In what seemed like a flashback to this day last year, when Wylie Hall (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was disqualified from the win in the G1 Durban July after interfering with Legislate (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) in the lane, Power King had to survive an inquiry but this year the fortunes played in the favor of the first-past-the-post in South Africa's richest race. Sneaking into the July with the co-lowest weight in the field and largely dismissed by punters, Power King traveled midpack and off the fence through the opening stages of the 2200 meter event. Behind a wall of horses before the field fanned across the track at the top of the lane, Power King drifted towards the outside, hooking up with Puntas Arenas to his outside passing the 150 meter mark. The winner held that rival at bay to the line and was permitted to keep the race after examination by stewards.
Power King was tried in top-class company during his sophomore campaign, but after off-the-board finishes in the G1 Cape Guineas and G1 Cape Derby he was dropped back in class, and enjoyed two confidence-boosting scores at Group 3 level last May. He filled the bridesmaid's role in his next five outings, finishing second or third on each occasion before faltering to seventh behind Futura (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) when trying Group 1 company again in the prestigious J&B Met Jan. 31. Second in the non-black type Cape Mile Feb. 21, he at last found the winner's circle again in Scottsville's Pinnacle S. Mar. 29, and was second in the G3 Betting World 1900 in the lead-up to this.
Power King led home a remarkable trifecta Saturday for his champion sire Silvano, who stands at Andreas Jacobs's Maine Chance Farms in the Western Cape.
VODACOM DURBAN JULY-G1, R3,500,000, GRV, 7-4, 3yo/up, 11fT, 2:15.17, gd.
1–&POWER KING (SAF), 117, g, 4, by Silvano (Ger)
1st Dam: Northern Gale (SAf), by Northern Guest
2nd Dam: Sail the Wind (SAf), by Boot Camp
3rd Dam: Vervetta (SAf), by Veronese (GB)
(R380,000 yrl '12 EMPNAT) O-Khaya Stables (Pty)
Ltd; B-Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd (SAF); T-Dean
Kannemeyer; J-Stuart Randolph. R2,093,750.
Lifetime Record: 19-6-5-4, R2,923,625. *1/2 to
Northern Land (SAf) (Badger Land), GSW-SAf. Werk
Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Punta Arenas (SAf), 120, g, 6, Silvano (Ger)–Peru
(SAf), by Candy Stripes. (R525,000 yrl '10 EMPNAT)
O-M I Fullard, J H Drew & D Watson-Smith; B-Maine
Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd (SAF); T-Stan Elley.
R670,000.
3–Tellina (SAf), 119, g, 5, Silvano (Ger)–Tachina (Ire),
by Spectrum (Ire). O-Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd
(Nom: Dr W A & Mrs N Jacobs); B-Maine Chance
Farms (Pty) Ltd; T-Geoff Woodruff. R335,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1. Odds: 22.00, 28.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Futura (SAf), Legal Eagle (SAf), French Navy (SAf), Ice Machine (SAf), The Conglomerate (Aus), Majmu (Aus), Halve the Deficit (SAf), Helderberg Blue (SAf), Hot Ticket (SAf), Gold Onyx (NZ), Dynastic Power (SAf), Pine Princess (SAf), Wylie Hall (Aus), Deputy Jud (SAf), Tamaanee (Aus). Scratched: Dynamic (SAf), Mac de Lago (Aus).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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