Duncan Howells, again teaming up with Anthony Delpech, won their second million-rand race in just over a month when Legend ran out an impressive winner of the Bloodstock South Africa Million Mile at Scottsville yesterday – Howells’s decision to skip the G2 Golden Horseshoe on July day paying dividends.

“He has made massive improvement since his last win,” said the Ashburton-based trainer of his charge. “I could have run him on July day but he had a bad draw so we took a gamble and went for the bigger stake. I don’t say we could have won then but I’m pretty sure he would have finished in the first four.”

The manner of yesterday’s win suggests that Howells would not have been far off the mark.

“This is the first time that I’ve sat on the horse,” said Delpech. “But he gave me a good feel. I think he’s good enough to win a Group race. He’s got a real turn of foot.”

Sitting midfield for much of the race, Delpech was left hunting for a gap approaching the two furlong marker. However, the field opened up on que. “When I got the run I couldn’t believe it,” he said. Legend took the gap and was clear in a matter of strides.

Last Outlaw chased hard for second but was never a serious threat with Palladium and Orapa filling the minor placings.

Dennis Drier had a day to remember winning four races including the Bloodstock South Africa Million Sprint although it was a close-run thing. Hack Green was backed in to prohibitive odds and the unbeaten colt was expected to win as he liked after his stunning victory in the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes at seasons end.

In the end it took a judge’s photo to separate Hack Green and Green Pepper, a piece of paper the margin, with the filly Seattle Singer in third.

“He’s a baby and still learning,” said relieved rider Sean Veale after facing a dilemma two furlongs out. “I didn’t know whether to barge through and take the seven days (suspension) or switch out.”

Luckily for Veale he made the correct decision, switching out for a run. “If he had stayed on the inside I don’t think he would have run a place,” said Drier.

To add to the tension, Johan Janse van Vuuren, trainer of Green Pepper called for race review. However, the stipendiary stewards were quick to dismiss it as in their view both runners moved independently of each other and it was Drier’s turn to be relieved. “This is a nerve-wracking game as it is. I don’t need the extra tension but it was also a bit stiff on the second horse.”

Recently crowned champion freshman sire Gimmethegreenlight was without a stakes winner in his first crop until the final days of the season when Hack Green won the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes and Gunner capping it with victory in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes an hour later.

Although yesterday’s races were both non-black type, Gimmethegreenlight, the only horse to have twice beaten the mighty Variety Club, sired both Legend and Hack Green and just for good measure runner-up Green Pepper.

All three were bred at Varsfontein Stud who stand the Gr1 winning son of More Than Ready. Hack Green and Green Pepper under the stud’s banner wile Legend was bred by stud manager Carl and wife Amanda de Vos.

De Vos was on the verge of selling the Spectrum mare Colour Fast but was persuaded by Cathy Rymill, Howells’s partner, to hold onto her as the stable thought Legend was a smart horse. Good advice indeed.

Andrew Harrison