GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT (GRADE 1) Handicap 1200m – R 1000 000

LUCKY LAD

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Jockey: Richard Fourie

Winner: LUCKY LAD

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Imperial State by Caesour (USA))

BRED BY: Varsfontein Stud

OWNED: Mr A R & Mrs A B L Beck

GOLDEN HORSE MEDALLION (GRADE 1) – R 1000 000 – 1200M

PROCEED

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Jockey: Richard Fourie

Winner: PROCEEDGimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Xplosive Kiss by Captain Al

BRED BY: Mr L M F Wernars

OWNED: Messrs J F & L M F Wernars & Mrs T J Wernars

ALLAN ROBERTSON CHAMPIONSHIP (GRADE 1) – R 1000 000 1200m

QUID PRO QUO

Trainer: Barend Botes

Jockey: Richard Fourie

Winner: QUID PRO QUO Lance – Delightfull Diva by The Sheik

BRED BY: Mr G C Kalil

OWNED: Mr G C Kalil

SA FILLIES SPRINT (GRADE 1) – R1000 000 – 1200m

OCTOBER MORN

       Trainer: Candice Bass-Robinson

      Jockey: Raymond Danielson

Winner: OCTOBER MORN Trippi (USA) – Miss October by Var (USA)

BRED BY: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm & Mr D G Abery

OWNED: Mr D G Abery

Lucky Lad lives up to his name

Andrew Harrison

Retired training legend Dennis Drier was dubbed the ‘King of Hollywoodbets Scottsville’ but he has now been dethroned by ‘Emperor’ Sean Tarry.

It was nail-biting stuff for the supporters of favourite Lucky Lad in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, but he recorded Tarry’s 20th Grade 1 victory at the Scottsville track on Saturday. A runaway winner of the Gr1 Gold Medallion last year, some breathing issues curtailed much of Lucky Lad’s three-year-old season but they now appear to have been remedied and the son of Gimmethegreenlight got up in the last stride to edge out At My Command and I Am Giant with Cruise Control filling the shallow end of the purse.

 ‘It was a great win, spectacular, but I did have my heart in my mouth,” commented Tarry post-race. “Whew, it wasn’t nice to watch.”

In a thread that went all through the Grade 1 races on the afternoon, Richard Fourie found himself in desperate trouble with two furlongs to travel. 

Caught at the back of the field, every door was shut in his face and in desperation he switched Lucky Lad wide out for a clear run.

From there on, Lucky Lad picked up the bit and in a remarkable turn of foot, Fourie got him up on the line. 

“I don’t know if he was finishing well or the other horses stopping but he was favourite and I’m glad he got there for the punters,” concluded Tarry.

 Tarry was denied a third Grade 1 winner on the afternoon as Mrs Browning was out-gunned in the dash to the wire by the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained October Morn, the lessor fancied of her two runners in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Raymond Danielson was well acquainted with his mount after having ridden her to victory earlier in the season at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Fourie looked to have time his run to perfection as Mrs Browning pulled clear of a cavalry charge but October Morn was not going away and Danielson got his filly’s nose in front when it counted with Winter Greeting well back in third. Unfortunately for supporters of Asiye Phambili, she jumped awkwardly dislodging Rachel Venniker. 

 Tarry scored his 19th Grade 1 winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville with a one-two as Proceed and stable companion Cosmic Speed dominated the Gr1 Gold Medallion. It is a race that Tarry has won three year’s running starting with Thunderstruck and Lucky Lad’s romp last season.

But it was not plane sailing as it took all of Richard Fourie’s expertise to get him home. Instructions were to give his mount a chance which, in layman’s terms, means waiting as late as possible before making a finishing move. 

Two furlongs out it looked to have all gone wrong as Proceed faced a wall of runners, but Fourie barged his way through a tight gap and the diminutive son of Gimmethegreenlight responded with a telling turn of foot to win going away. Story of the afternoon was Quid Pro Quo’s win in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. “Horses in training is more my game,” according to winning trainer Barend Botes who reckons that young horses are over-priced so it was home-bred Quid Pro Quo who have him his first Grade 1 winner when she landed the Gr1. Owned and bred by Gerald Khalil, Quo Pro Quo also have you sire Lance his first Grade 1 winner.

As in the Gold Medallion, the race was not without incident as the field concertinaed up the inside rail, Gimmie’s Countess one of the chief sufferers and S’Manga Khumalo, draw in pole position was forced into the middle of the track looking for running room after a tardy start. 300 m out Rodeo Drive and Symphony In White had the race to themselves with Gimmie’s Countess, after having to check for a few strides, making progress.

 That this stage Quid Pro Quo was in a hopeless position faced with a wall of horses. However, Rodeo Drive shifted in towards Symphony In White and the barn door opened. Quid Pro Quo was quickly through and won going away.