Weiho Marwing has a knack with staying horses and he underlined that fact when Hermoso Mundo became the first horse in history to land the unofficial staying triple crown when the Ideal World gelding got the better of the mare Zante in a tight stretch in the Gr3 eLAN Gold Cup at Greyville yesterday. This was the gelding’s third start for Marwing who had done all of his early racing with Alec Laird and Marwing was magnanimous in victory. “Thanks to Alec. The horse came to me in great condition and he’s also a great trainer.”

Hermoso Mundo (Candiese Marnewick)

The Gold Bowl over the Turffontein 3200m turned into an exercise gallop as Hermoso Mundo put five lengths over the opposition. The 3000m SABC Gold Vase was the complete opposite as the result was decided in the boardroom, Hermoso Mundo the beneficiary of the stipendiary board’s decision, Captain Splendid on the receiving end.

There was possibly some vindication in that decision as Captain Splendid finished well beaten and it was the mare Zante, also a daughter of the Mauritzfontein-based sire Ideal World, who turned up the wick.

Crossing the subway, a wall of horses moved in to challenge pacemaker Francia who had pulled herself to the front as a result of a slipped saddle and it was a case off anyone’s race. But with a furlong to run, the tangerine colours of Hermoso Mundo hit the front as the gelding shook off challengers down the centre but Zante was not done. She just wouldn’t go away as Gavin Lerena drove her through on the gelding’s inside, a head in it at the wire.

“He’s a super horse,” concluded Marwing. I haven’t got to the bottom of him yet. He gets better with every run.”

At about the 1400m mark Royal Badge was pulled out of the race result in Krambambuli being forced to check with Fortissima and Trophy Wife also suffering interference.

Weiho Marwing (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Equus Award for stayers has over the years been a contentious category. On many occasions the country’s staying ranks have been tissue thin and the award inevitably going to the winner of the Gr1 SA Derby. Although Hermoso Mundo’s three victories have come in Grade 3 company, he threw his hat into the ring as they are genuine staying events.

Glen Kotzen rounded off SA Champions Season with a bang as he landed the final Grade 1 juvenile race of the season as Eyes Wide Open edged out the luckless Ancestry in the Premiers Champion Juvenile Stakes.

Coming off a maiden win at Scottsville, Richard Fourie rode a confident race and was up in the irons as he crossed the line. “I rode him in work in Cape Town and knew he had potential. He has tons of ability.”

Second-placed Ancestry came from a long way back for another runner-up berth but Joey Ramsden was a little miffed with the ride by Bernard Fayd’Herbe. “He said he could have squeezed Richard out! His words not mine. So why didn’t he?” queried Ramsden.

Ideal World sired the first two across the line in the Gold Cup but super-sire Dynasty went one better, being responsible for both Eyes Wide Open and Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes winner Lady In Black. Dennis Drier, beaten to the line in the KZN Trainer’s Championship, gained just reward as Lady In Black kept her clean sheet and looks to be a filly to be reckoned with. She raced wide for most of the race, took a bump at the top of the straight but motored away to beat a fast-finishing Rockin Russian. “She took a nudge from S’Manga at the top of the straight and she didn’t like it,” said Sean Veal. “She’s very good and I rated her from day 1.”

By Andrew Harrison