Sweet victory for Lazrin

By The Squirrel

In an afternoon borrowed from Epson Downs, Oliver Gray’s Lazrin and Armstrong’s Girl, in perfect physical symmetry, found the Spur Steak Ranches Derby before Borodin (Ibrahim Wachira), could think loud enough.

Lazrin, ridden harmoniously by visiting jockey, Simanga Khumalo, was dormant until the straight, when he burst onto cloud nineteen in a shuddering tour de force. Call it a hatchet job on epic scales for owner Ray Warner, the supporting cast of Oliver Gray for many years.

Simanga Kumalo, riding Lazrin, reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the Spur Steak Ranches Kenya Derby at Ngong on Sunday. [PHOTO:MARTIN MUKANGU/STANDARD]

NGONG RESULTS

12.30pm:First race-Makaarem Maiden (1,800m)

1. Boadica (Charles Mwangi)

2. Othello (Simanga Khumalo)

3. Captain Gerard (Henry Muya) Distance: 7.5/3.5/3/3.5. Time: 1:55:1/10 secs Favourite: Winner. Runners: 7 Owned by East African Growers

(the late Premalal Mahajan).Trainer Gilly Fraser

1.05pm- Second Race - Ashtontown Handicap (2,060m)

1. Woodlands (Jacob Lokorian)

2. Drummond (David Miri)

3. Spoonerism (Ibrahim Wachira) Distance: 13.5/3.5/4.5. Time: 2:12:3/10 secs. Favourite: Popaway. Runners: 7 Templar withdrawn Owned by Mary Binks. Trainer Julie McCann

1.40pm- Third Race - Kenya Gold Cup -George Drew Challenge Series (3,200m)

1. Silverdale (Charles Mwangi)

2. Mulligan (Henry Muya)

3. Sifi Moyo (Simanga Khumalo)

4. Martial Art (Julie McCann)

Distance: 2.5/0.75/7/0.75. Time: 3:36:5/10 secs. Runners: 8. Favourite: Martial Art owned by David Armstrong. Trainer Nur Nuno

2.15pm -Fourth Race - Landfall Maiden (1,200m)

1. Glitzern (Jacob Lokorian)

2. Jamesons Run (Simanga Khumalo)

3. Russian Survivor (Patrick Mungai)

Distance: 8/2/1.4/1 Time: 1:14:7/10 secs. Favourite: Russian Survivor Runners: 11. Owned by Mary Binks. Trainer Julie McCann

2.50pm - Fifth Race - Triarius Handicap (1,600m)

1. Century Lights (Simanga Khumalo)

2. Halfmoon Bay (Simon Kiplimo)

3. Makoke (Lesley Sercombe)

Distance: 5.5/1.75/2.5/5.5. Time: 1:43:3/10secs. Favourite: Winner. Runners:12 Owned by David Armstrong. Trainer Oliver Gray

3.25pm - Sixth Race - The Spur Steak Ranches Kenya Derby (2,400m)

1. Lazrin (Simanga Khumalo) -breeding (Bezrin-Fiery Lady)

2. Armstrong’s Girl (James Muhindi)

3. Borodin (Ibrahim Wachira)

4. Skeleton Coast (Julie McCann)

5. Blockbuster (Lesley Sercombe)

Distance: 1.5/1.5/1.5/2/2.75. Time: 2:34:2?10 secs Favourite: winner. Runners: 14 Owned by Ray Warner. Trainer Oliver Gray

4.00 pm - Seventh Race - Diver Handicap

1. Water Mark (Daniel Tanui)

1. Squireen (Charles Mwangi)

3. Bettamint (Simon Kiplimo)

Distance: Dead Heat/2/3/5/1.4. Time: 1:27:4/10 secs Favourite: Bettamint Runners: 12 Mariakani withdrawn Owned by Vision Syndicate/Hamid Butt. Trainers: Winnie Ndegwa/Joe Karari

4.35 pm - Eighth Race - The Breeding Futurity Stakes Mervyn Ridley (1,000m)1. Got A Hold On Me (Julie McCann) 2. You’re So Vain (Patrick Mungai)

3. Viola (Ibrahim Wachira) Distance: 2.75/4.75/2/4.5 Time: 0:58:8/10 secs Favourite: Viola Runners 5 Owned by David Armstrong and N. Sariff. Trainer Julie McCann 5.05pm - Ninth Race - Harry Deacon Memorial Bowl (1,000m)

1. Grandee (Ralton Peters)

2. Wouldbe Empress (Lesley Sercombe)

3. Ashrafi (Jacob Lokorian)

4. Who’s Counting (Steve Njuguna)

1. Divine Prince (Julie McCann) Distance: 2/2.5/1.4/6.5. Time: 0:58:7/10 secs Favourite: Wouldbe Empress.