The Justin Snaith-trained two-year-old colt Harry Lime was an easy winner of the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1 200m under Richard Fourie and is yet another progeny of Var that will make his presence felt. “This horse can really run,” said Snaith.
He added that the bay colt was still very immature, implying that no risks would be taken. He continued, “We bought him specifically for the Gr 1 at Scottsville (Tsogo Sun Medallion), so will see how well he pulls up and take it from there.”
The Fred Crabbia-owned colt started 2-1 favourite and pulled clear from a handy position to win by 3,75 lengths. The Mike de Kock-trained 14-1 shot Mastermind battled bravely, but made little impression on the winner. The Paul Lafferty-trained 8-1 chance Harry’s Son will likely prefer further, so did well to finish third. The Duncan Howells-trained Easy Lover started 13-2 joint second favourite and finished fourth, with Kapitan next best.
Harry Lime is unbeaten in two starts.
The Glen Kotzen-trained filly Rosier appeared to enjoy the Scottsville 1 200m trip of the Gr 2 Debutante as much as her father Kildonan did and ground out a determined victory under Stuart Randolph. She remained unbeaten, having won on debut at Kenilworth at odds of 50-1 and following up in the Listed East Cape Filllies Nursery over 1 200m at Fairview.
Yesterday she started at 16-1 and was in the firing line throughout before fighting on well to hold the Mike Azzie-trained Gauteng raider Lady Ky at bay by 0,75 lengths. The De Kock-trained Ad Idem finished third ahead of the 2-1 favourite, the Snaith-trained Arria. The Mike Bass-trained Seven Grand moved up threateningly from behind, but didn’t go through with it as well as she had in her previous starts and finished fifth.
Rosier has early pace and a strong finish, the combinations necessary for the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over this course and distance at the end of May.
Alistair Gordon gave some cheer to KZN trainers as his gelding Joshua’s Crown won the Listed Sledgehammer over 1 800m.
The five-year-old by Joshua Dancer snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight of 52kg and ran on resolutely from a handy position under Julius Mariba to get up by a short-head from the Joey Ramsden-trained Coltrane with the Garth Puller-trained King Jace a further neck back in third. Favourite One Cool Dude never got a clear run in the straight and can be counted an unlucky loser beaten a half-length.
This was Joshua’s Crown’s third victory at the Pietermaritzburg track.
The Listed Scarlet Lady over 1 800m saw an impressive five-length victory for the Brett Crawford-trained five-year-old Dynasty mare Dancing Dynasty, who was ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe. Her more favoured stablemate Luna Da Victoria had no answer to her sweeping finish, but was a clear second ahead of Supercede, Hijacked and Royal Denise.[/expand]
