RacingSkillz
Irish Flame is the best three-year-old in South Africa
STABLEMATES Irish Flame and Bold Silvano fought out the finish of the Grade 1 Daily News over 2000m at Greyville on Saturday and it was Kevin Shea’s mount Irish Flame who prevailed to confirm his versatility and stamp himself as the leading three-year-old contender for the Durban July.
The runner-up Bold Silvano came from way off the pace for his superb second and he, too, is likely to be a factor in SA’s biggest race at the end July.
“I was surprised how much pace Irish Flame showed today. He was on a tight rein early and we had a good pace, which suited him,” said trainer Mike de Kock. “Bold Silvano ran a huge race coming from so far back, but that is the way he likes to race.”
Shea said that if Irish Flame brought his Daily News run to the July he would be a big runner. “Grey’s Inn won the Derby by a short head and went on to win the July. Irish Flame was an easy winner in the Derby - he’s a top horse and this was a big run.”
Irish Flame is owned by Larry Nestadt, Bernard Kantor, Gary Barber and Rob van Mollendorf. JJ van der Linden, the owners’ representative, said: “We want to thank Rob Champion for finding us this horse.”
Orignal article by Charl (RacingWeb)
