Test for King Regent

Henk Steenkamp

He was a facile winner of the first leg, but King Regent faces a much more difficult task on Friday in the second leg of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge.

All eyes will be on the Cape Town visitor in the second leg (NBT) over 1400m on the Fairview Polytrack when King Regent chases that fat bonus.

No horse has been able to win all three legs of the Challenge, and the bonus of R250 000 for his connections, since the popular Challenge was introduced in 2016.

The impressive manner in which King Regent won the first leg over 1200m indicates he might just be able to go all the way in the Challenge.

Dennis Schwarz was the winning jockey in the first leg and will again be in the saddle, this time from a wider draw.

The Glen Kotzen stable will know it is too soon to pop the champagne. The second leg is very competitive and King Regent will be up against talented individuals in the field of 11 runners.

He is not the only Cape Town visitor of which a big effort is expected. Silver Falcon and Port Louis are not making the trip to Gqeberha to take a look at the scenery.

There is very little to choose between King Regent and Silver Falcon (Justin Snaith). Silver Falcon won his only attempt over this course and distance but is drawn widest of all. Muzi Yeni is the jockey.

The locally trained horses will also be ready to fire. The talented Khaya’s Hope returns from a break and can be involved in the finish. The filly Luna Halo has a good record on this surface and can make her presence felt.

And can one write off the chances of Prince of Fire and Narcos?

Narcos was the winner of last year’s second leg, with Prince of Fire in second place. Prince of Fire was the consolation bonus winner last year.

Prince of Fire and Narcos are both trained by Kelly Mitchley, and this stable is in red-hot form!

If King Regent misses the frame, the race for the consolation bonus of R50 000 will open up.

This bonus will go to the horse that performed the best over all three legs of the Challenge (if King Regent doesn’t win all three).

The third and final leg is over 1600m on 18 October.

There are nine races on Friday’s card and the first race is off at 11:30. The feature is race eight at 15:45.

Greenlight Dancer (race 1), Sweet Cake (race 2), On My Honour (race 4), Masked Vigilante (race 5) and Happy Holly (race 7) are horses for the shortlist.