Private Richmond-based trainer Doug Campbell ended a lean spell with a memorable four-timer on the polytrack at Greyville on Friday night, two of them ridden by Donovan Dillon who in turn scored a treble at the meeting.

Campbell’s night began with a victory by a horse he bred, the three-year-old Mogok filly Race Me Home. Race Me Home’s dam is an own sister to the Campbell-trained National Emblem mare National Navigator, a seven-time winner who won a Listed race and later produced the dual Gr 3-winnner Kinematic Countess. Friday night’s Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m was Race Me Home’s third start and she started 16/10 favourite having caught the eye in both of her first two starts. The only concern was the two slow starts she had previously had.

However, being loaded late made all the difference and she jumped well. This saw her in front and over racing a bit, but the experienced stalwart Anthony Delpech didn’t panic and allowed her to use her lovely action. In the straight she kept the persistent challenge of her market rival Chapel Queen at bay to win by a quarter-of-a-length and they were followed home closely by a flying Glimmer Of Silver and the consistent Campbell-trained earner Dark Rose. Race Me Home looks likely to win more races.

Campbell sent out the well-bred Strummer in the second, a Maiden over 1000m.  The Arc-en-Ciel Stud-bred colt is by Var out of the Sportsworld mare Hello Margarita, who was placed third in both the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m and the Gr 1 Cape Guineas, and he is a half-brother to the useful Cruzwithmecaptain. Strummer, who started at 6/1 under in form Ian Sturgeon, not surprisingly showed pace from a good draw of two and turned for home in front.

Under a hands and heels ride he stayed there and pulled further clear when asked the question at the 200m mark to win by 2,75 lengths from Shreya’s Star, who should win soon having showed good pace throughout from a wide draw. Strummer has plenty of speed and looks to have a nice, relaxed temperament too, so he could well be above average. He was picked at the sales by Campbell’s wife Di, who also puts in a tremendous amount of work as assistant trainer.

Campbell claimed a quick 1000m hat-trick in the next when the five-year-old Yellow Star Stud-bred Kildonan gelding Fire The Rocket got up in a MR 74 Handicap under Dillon. The previous Friday night Fire The Rocket had run a cracking close up third to good horses in a Pinnacle Stakes event, which made him hard to oppose back in a handicap. He duly delivered at odds of 22/10, although he had his work cut out and only just got there by a head from the talented but unsound H’Oponopono.

Later Dillon brought home the four-year-old Campbell-bred Overlord filly Overlap to win a MR 75 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m at odds of 8/1. Dillon timed his run to perfection, which he later revealed was necessary with this filly, who doesn’t enjoy being in front for too long.

Campbell has achieved a four-timer on only one previous occasion and that was way back in 1989 at Scottsville. He was full of praise for his team, singling out Di as well as another of his assistants John Swart, who will be leaving him at the end of the month. He also thanked the yard’s owners.

Dillon’s other winner was aboard the Garth Puller-trained five-year-old Mogok gelding Way Of Light, who is lightly raced and is now coming into his own. The 84 merit-rated horse burst through to win a MR 86 Handicap over 1400m in impressive style to record his second win in a row and fourth career victory in just nine starts.

Delpech also scored a treble on the night. He brought home the Dean Kannemeyer-trained five-year-old Jay Peg mare Alzerra to win a MR 75 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. She just got up in her first start in KZN, but it provided further proof that the merit ratings of Cape Town horses are often suppressed due to the class of horse down there and they usually appear to have an advantage at the weights when arriving in KZN. Later, Delpech won on the Kumaran Naidoo-trained Australian-bred three-year-old High Chaparral filly Princess Varunya, who relished the step up in trip in the 2000m fillies and mares Maiden and won effortlessly by 5,75 lengths. She looks to have some class as she is a filly with substance and possesses a nice, long stride, so is one to follow.

The only other winner on the night was also an eye-catcher. Weiho Marwing had obviously thought a lot of the now four-year-old Admire Main filly Mamasita last season, as he entered her in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000. She once again showed her liking for the poly on Friday night, storming through to win a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m by a length under Jarred Samuel off a merit rating of 81. The runner up from the Alyson Wright yard, Alpine Ridge, has won on the poly before and can also be followed.

– David Thiselton