Immediate Edge shows determination

Immediate Edge showed gritty determination to win the Listed WSB Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday from Wild Intent.

The race developed off a decent clip set by free-striding Towers Of Gold, and, to start his chase after the home bend, Immediate Edge had to commit to a narrow gap between Diwali Rocket and Wild Intent. He didn’t shirk it, took the space under confident urgings from Ryan Munger. Then, in full cry, Immediate Edge had to be kept together to avoid contact with the tiring pacemaker.

But good horses take what comes to them and Immediate Edge didn’t allow Wild Intent to get away from him. They matched strides in a riveting finish, neither prepared to give an inch. Wild Intent surged, but Immediate Edge dug deeper, held on to his narrow lead and thrust his nose in front – victory by a heartbeat!

“He’s a hard guy, this was a gutsy win,” enthused Munger. “Gavin Lerena (on Wild Intent) saw me coming, had me a bit tight. But once Immediate Edge put his head into the gap, I knew he’d fight on . He is improving with every run. I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”

Mike de Kock shared Munger’s positive views about Immediate Edge and said: “This was a top win. It got a bit scrappy, but there was some good race-riding. Three races ago he was still a Maiden, I think he is a horse going places. He has a progressive way about him. I’m not sure of we’ll race him in Johannesburg again (this season), he’s the type of horse we’d like to get into the Durban July with the right weight.”

Mike de Kock, Ryan Munger, David Dlamini.

There were more than eight lengths between the front pair and the third horse, Diwali Rocket, which shows that this may prove to be a meritorious win.

Immediate Edge is a colt by Vercingetorix out of Anhaar, by Commands. Bred by Shadwell Stud, he races for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalia Al Maktoum’s Al Adiyaat, Wilgerbosdrift (Mary Slack), Chris Haynes and Mike de Kock.