Thriller in Manila, heavily favoured for the title after opening at 3/1 only to close at 28/10, could not take part in the race after he cast his front shoe and efforts to remove the other to enable him to take part failed.
King Halal from the Kirk Swanson stable, supposed to be ridden by Kevin Derere, resisted being loaded into the starting stalls and he too was withdrawn from the race. This was in addition to the withdrawal of Lisa Harris’ star filly, Casey’s Dance and Will Pays, leaving what had looked like a strong field of 12 horses with only eight.
That left five-year-old mare Gentle Brook as the favourite for the race, but On the Rock, yet to finish out of the top three this season, took his third title for the season with a convincing finish.
Although On the Rock took with him a cool $7,650, he was not all that generous to his backers, as he offered the punters only $2.50. He also gave out $2.60 when combined with Picalilly in the swingers, but offered much more with Gentle Brook, dishing out $4.70.On the Rock opened betting at 7/2 closed at 4/1.
Count the Music finished fourth in this second leg of the Sprinter Series with the others way behind as Super Trouper, Arula Borealis, Marumbala and a Moment in the Sun following suit. The next race on the calendar is the Zimbabwe Challenge, slated for December 14 – the last race for this year. The Zimbabwe Challenge is the third leg of the Sprinter Series with the fourth leg coming in the form of Hachiman Spring in January.
Post published in: Sport