Harry Nyquist runs them ragged

Harry Nyquist clocked 67,93s in his debut win over 1160m at Turffontein on Satutrday – 0,61s faster than the class average, and made a good impression. He jumped like a pro, cruised into the lead, came across from the inside to the standside and won by just over four lengths.

This was one of those rare races where, after 400m, one kind of got the feeling that it was over as a contest. Watch the replay at the end of this review to see how Harry Nyquist has them all off the bit at the 600m. He quickened away, using his beautiful action. “He won a smart race,” said jockey Chase Maujean.

“I didn’t see that one coming,” said a suitably impressed Mike de Kock after the race. Mike said in his preview that he felt this was a beatable field, but the ease of his win came unexpected. Mike also noted that Harry Nyquist had been problematic to train. He and Mathew will be crossing fingers that it’s plain sailing from here, so that he can develop into a decent prospect.

Assistant David Dlamini commented: “Harry Nyquist had niggles and it was a good idea to geld him. (What we saw today) is the type of work he’d showed us in the beginning.”

Harry Nyquist is by 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of Go On Mary (Broken Vow), and was bred by Jessica Slack, who said: “Broken Vow is the USA now and is due next to Game Winner (Candy Ride).”

Harry Nyquist runs in the silks of stalwart owner Henk Leyenaar, in partnership with Chris Haynes, Mike de Kock, George Ragunan and Noeline Malherbe. Leyenaar, who became well-known in SA racing circles as one of the original owners of Ipi Tombe, said from his Harare home: “It’s a pity he had to be gelded, he has a wonderful American pedigree. But we, the ‘mushrooms’, are very pleased and thankful to the De Kock Racing Team”. ‘Mushrooms’, said Henk, was a name suggested by Chris and Jehan Malherbe, because ‘Mike always keeps us in the dark!’

Henk will be celebrating his 79th birthday next Saturday and said: “I still ride my own horse around Borrowdale Park every day of the week!”

VIDEO REPLAY BELOW