Bezanova wins big for charity

AMID the clouds gathering over Turffontein Racecourse the racing fraternity still came to cheer along for their favourite horse at the tenth annual Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile.
This also marked the opening of the summer racing season for the Highveld on Saturday November 1. The event was held in partnership with Racing. It’s A Rush and surpassed all expectations. Trainer Alec Laird was finally able to achieve something he was unable to do before – beat Louis the King. 
Not so favourite for the fans, Bezanova, winning the perfect timed Emperors Palace Charity Mile Grade 2 R600 000 event when jockey Weichong Marwing fought off a strong finish by No Worries.
Bezanova won with a nose breathe to take the grand prize of R100 000 for Charity, National Horse Trust and celebrity, Mrs South Africa, Sarah-Kate Scott. He was the lesser fancied of the three Alec Laird runners, the other two being the highly trained As You Like and Bouclette Top. No Worries fought through the worst draw in the 16- field. 
Louis The King (7-1) running on strongly from near last to finish third, just 0.75 lengths off the winner. Fourth place went to another Geoff Woodruff runner, Lockheed Jetstar.
There was drama at the start when Rake’s Chestnut stumbled badly, dislodging jockey Anton Marcus. Fortunately both jockey and horse were fine and Marcus was able to continue his riding arrangement for the day.
“I’ll take the third place,” said Piere Strydom from Alberton who was drawn wide and made a lot of ground on Louis The King which was remarkable. The won for the Charity, Fortune Kunene Primary After Care Centre and Media partner, Comaro Chronicle.
The Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes. Also over 1 400m, went to Harry’s Son, ridden by Strydom, who confirmed the form with Jayyed despite being 4.5kg worse off. “I thought he had no chance of winning,” said Strydom. “But I didn’t take into account the amount of improvement and he has improved a lot since the Greyville run.”
The nomination fees for the two R250 000 maiden plates , which were contributed to by Princess Charlene of Monaco, which amounted to about R100,000 were donated to the Highveld Horse Care Unit.
The Charity Mile race is one of the many electrifying races held at Turffontein Racecourse annually. Next on the cards at Turffontein Racecourse, is the Racing. It’s A Rush International Jockeys Challenge which will be held on Saturday November 15 with the final leg held at Kenilworth Racecourse on 16 of November.
On the day, six top South African jockeys, captained by Champion Jockey S’manga Khumalo will battle it out with international jockeys. 
Don’t miss it! To book, contact Agnes on 011 681 1702.