3 minute read

The Mike de Kock trained Silver Flyer, sporting blinkers for the first time, lived up to his name as the three year old flew up late under Glen Hatt to win the R 500 000, Grade 2, Investec Dingaans(1600m) at Turffontein on Saturday.

Potala Palace was all the rage and started a short priced favourite at 19/10, while Silver Flyer was one of the lesser fancied of De Kock's five runners, drifting out to 15/1 at the start.

Potala Palace came around the field after the jump to take the early lead, with Pomodoro and Straw Market also up close. Silver Flyer and the fancied maiden winner Merhee(AUS) were content to bowl along at the rear of the field.

By the 800m mark, Potala Palace had extended his lead to 3 lengths and it looked as if a repeat of his Grade 1 Premier's Champion Stakes win was on the cards. But with 300m to go the challenges came from all around and Potala Palace cried enough under the pressure.

Pomodoro, Straw Market and Whiteline Fever emerged from the charging pack and looked to be fighting out the finish. But Hatt had set Silver Flyer alight at the rear of the field and the Silvano colt came flying up on the outside, passing the leaders with ease to win by 2.5L.

The Sean Tarry trained Whiteline Fever got the nod in second, with Straw Market a further 1.5L back. The second Tarry runner, Pomodoro, finished in fourth a half length back.

Silver Flyer had put his hand up as a contender for the upcoming classics when he won his second start by two lengths and then went on to finish fifth, 2.6 lengths behind Potala Palace in the Grade 1 Premier's Champion Stakes.

The Silvano offspring are not known to be early horses and it should come as no surprise that the colt is lightly raced, recording only his second win from five starts.

Bred by Patricia Devine from the Flaming Rock mare Fiery Flier, Silver Flyer is owned by Mrs Serge Seenyen and was purchased at the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sale for R200 000.