TABGOLD WOOLAVINGTON 2000 (Grade 1) -R1 500 000 – For 3 year-old Fillies – 2000m

SILVER SANCTUARY

Trainer: Mike de Kock
Jockey: Richard Fourie

Winner: SILVER SANCTUARY

BRED BY: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

OWNED: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

LONSDALE STIRRUP CUP (Grade 3) Handicap – 2400m – R200 000  

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Trainer: Peter Muscutt

Jockey: Tristan Godden

Winner: DOWN TO BUSINESS

BRED BY: Mr Mayesh Chetty

OWNED: Messrs P C Rugg, G M Littleford & S H Murray

DAILY NEWS 2000 (Grade 1) – R2 000 000
For 3 year-olds – 2000m

GREEN WITH ENVY

Trainer: Dean Kannemeyer
Jockey: Craig Zackey

Winner: GREEN WITH ENVY

BRED BY: Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

OWNED: Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Green With Envy makes it home – just!

Andrew Harrison

Green With Envy did not win quite as well as expected as he edged out Flag Man in a thrilling finish to the R2 million Gr1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 25 May with punters also having to wait a few agonising minutes with the stipendiary stewards calling for a race review into the closing stages.

Starting odds-on in the betting with the balance of the field easy to back, the race did not pan out as expected for Dean Kannemeyer’s hot favourite and jockey Craig Zackey had more than a few anxious moments as the picture changed in front of him with almost every stride. “I’ll have to work on my stress levels before the July,” he quipped post-race.

 As per usual, Zackey let Green With Envy tag in at the back of the field as William Iron Arm scorched into the lead but Calvin Habib, sensing that he had gone too quickly too early, eased back allowing The Grey King to take up the running, the pace still a hot one.

With some scrimmaging around the 900m mark, Zackey was forced to pull out wide up the hill and even given the strong early pace, he started to make up ground on the leaders. Green With Envy travelled smoothly into the lead crossing the subway but then started to hang in away from the grandstand and shifted ground alarmingly as Flag Man put in a telling effort up his inside. The two joined battle some 300m out with Flag Man fighting on gamely and Green With Envy hard at it on his outside.

Zackey managed to keep Green With Envy from interfering with Flag Man – the stipes satisfied that all was in order – the two crossing the line almost as one with Green With Envy a nose in front.

It was a cool ride from Zackey because although the winning margin was desperately close, he knew his mount had just enough to make it to the line without undue punishment. In retrospect, this was a good, hard final warm-up for the R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Kannemeyer was non-committal post-race. “I would like to watch the race again before commenting,” he said.

Flag Man was virtually ignored in the market but Gareth van Zyl thought enough of his charge to supplement him into this race and the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Although seeming well held in the weights by The Grey King on his previous showing, he beat The Grey King with consummate ease which played out in the Daily News.

Flag Man was not among the initial Hollywoodbets Durban July entries but his connections paid up the first supplementary fee and given yesterday’s showing he will be among the market leaders for the big race come Monday. 

There is no stopping title chasing Richard Fourie who produced Silver Sanctuary with a telling straight-run to win the Gr1 TabGold Woolavington 2000 for Mike de Kock. In a race that did not set any early speed records, she quickened smartly at the top of the straight to hold off Hold My Hand, both runners in the colours of Drakenstein Stud whose silks have been carried to victory in the last three running’s of the Woolavington.

The Peter Muscutt-trained Down To Business popped a few Hollywoodbets Durban July bubbles in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Listed), making amends for a narrow defeat in the Highland Night Cup at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

A pedestrian pace was always going to be an issue from a long way out but it suited Down To Business who took off from mid-field at the top of the straight to out-sprint his rivals, Tristan Godden timing his run to perfection. Favourite and July entry Marauding Horde was given every chance but was caught one-paced in the run in.