Stayers in short supply

A skimpy Splashout Cape Derby entry list this week reminded us of Joey Soma's comments of a few days earlier, bemoaning the drift away from endurance racing.

- Mike Moon

"Any mug can train a 1000m horse," declared the veteran trainer. "It's very hard to train a two-mile horse."

Talking after Damova had won a 3000m race at Turffontein, Soma called for more staying races on the local programme - even if it meant living with small fields, such as the six-horse affair his gutsy filly had just landed.