Mansion on a mission

FORM: WINCHESTER MANSION HITS FORM TO WIN CHARITY MILE, NEXT THE SUMMER CUP

- Jack Milner

James Crawford, assistant trainer for his father Brett, expressed confidence that their stable would win Saturday's R1-million Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein.

He was correct, but he was just wrong about the horse.

Not that one could blame him. After all, Frances Ethel had had an excellent warm-up race while Winchester Mansion did not put up the perfect preparation performance.

However, last year's HWB Durban July winner found the right gears under Marco van Rensburg, burst clear at the time and kept on strongly to beat KZN visitor Gladatorian (20-1) by 0.75 lengths.

The winner went off at 40-1 and paid R44.90 for a win R8.60 for a place on TAB.

Third place went to Barbaresco (5-1) with Silver Sanctuary (14-1) running into fourth.

Mike de Kock-trained Dave The King went off as the 4-1 favourite but after leading the field for 1000m faded out to finish 19 lengths off the winner.

However, in a post-race examination by the course vet, the current Horse Of The Year was found to be not striding out left hind.