Horse Racing: Mafeking claims Lingfield honours
Totetrifecta Flexi Betting Handicap was the only fixture that did not fall victim to the big freeze on Tuesday, while the fourth race at Southwell was abandoned due to security concerns for jockeys. The race was run over a distance
of 1 mile on an all-weather card and was contended by racehorses of age 3 and above at Lingfield racecourse.
Mafeking was successful in holding the dominating Colt Suffolk Punch and thus managed to win the event. The participants of this event were very enthusiastic as the race began and there was intense competition as they tried to
hold each other off. Those who were observed to grab the lead at the beginning of the start were the colts Sarah Park, The Fifth Member and Mafeking. Nonetheless, only Suffolk Punch managed to dominate the field as the race took its first turn, and till the
end. The long-term champion was running under the jockey David Probert.
While Probert and Suffolk Punch were on the home turn, the rider was not interrupted by any other contender and they could have undisputedly claimed victory in the race had the racehorse not run out of breath in the final yards,
which allowed Mafeking, under the jockey Chris Catlin, and Baylini, under the jockey James Doyle, to run past him.
In a post race interview, trainer Mark Hoad said, “We planned to make it or sit in and it worked brilliantly, it maybe suited him to get a lead.”
He further added, “That’s the first time he’s raced at a mile since his two year old days, so there are more options for him. He’s the nest on the all-weather and I thought he was the class horse in the race.”
This was the only meeting that survived on Tuesday, while the fourth race at Southwell was called off. Other fixtures that were abandoned yesterday were those at Punchestown, Ludlow and Hexam. Meanwhile, Gowran Park’s officials
have called for an inspection on Thursday for the Friday fixture. The inspection will take place at 8 a.m. on Thursday. The chances of the race at Gowran Park are bleak since the course is still covered in snow after the heavy snowfall on Monday night. Despite
the dry forecast, the officials of the racecourse are not very optimistic about the prospects of the meeting. Since the temperature is to remain below 3˚C until Thursday, no time will be left for the track to thaw for Friday’s card.
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