It’s never easy to make up ground in a sprint, especially so after an awkward start on debut.
Newcomer Destiny Of Fire was inexperienced out of the gates in Race 1 over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday – she came out with what looked like half a flyjump and lost a length or two on her rivals in a race with pace all around her. But jockey Serino Moodley handled her calmly and with patience. She raced up to the hindquarters of the back markers, found her running rhythm and settled sensibly.
Destiny Of Fire was still last with 500m to go, but, switched into the open she quickened nicely and put herself well into the race with 300m to run. There was a stampede of runners racing into the closing stages, but she finished best and got her nose in front right on the line.
Destiny Of Fire races in partnership for Mike de Kock and Chris Haynes. She was bred by the late Lady Chrys O’Reilly by Master of Fate out of Festival Of Fire, who won the 2012 G3 Joburg Spring Challenge and finished second in the G1 Empress Club Stakes.
“This is a nice filly, she’s going to win her share of races,” said Mike.
