Andrew Harrison

SPARE a thought for horses that are just below top class, always game, but often used as the hare for their more talented stable mates.

Many, just like human athletes who always run second, often lose heart but Crown Towers plugs on like a true soldier and he made all to win the World Sports Betting Sledgehammer at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday, holding a late charging Black Knap, the lesser fancied stable companion of favourite Rascallion.

Richard Fourie conceded that Crown Towers was probably the fittest horse in the race after winning at Hollywoodbets Greyville last time out.

“He’s our Natal horse,” confirmed Justin Snaith. “He did not go back to Cape Town after last season. We sent him to Jo’Burg where he tried his heart out.”

Crown Towers is obviously a horse that hits a soft spot in the yard and back-to-back victories are fitting for a horse who always tries.

Vaughan Marshall’s runner Black Knap should not have been such a surprise package with his game second as there was little to fault his Cape form. He was closing on Crown Towers with every stride and had the race won two jumps past the post.

 However, he was overshadowed in the market by stable companion and favourite Rascallion who was up with the pace for most of the race but was under pressure soon after entering the straight and Anton Marcus eased him up after his chances had gone.

It was obviously a below par effort and one should not write him off lightly.

It was pointed out that my observation that She’s A Keeper was badly out at the weights in my preview of the World Sports Betting Scarlet Lady, that I should have added the word ‘officially’ as Gareth van Zyl’s filly was obviously way better than what she had been pegged at given the handicapping restrictions on maximum penalties.

She’s A Keeper proved yesterday that she is a long way better than her current MR rating of 84 as she slammed a useful field in fine style.

Racing three wide for most of the race, she quickened smartly at the top of the straight, and in spite of Warren Kennedy having to straighten her up as she lugged towards the inside rail, she ran away from them over the final furlong.

“I couldn’t get in,” said Kennedy, fresh from Saturday’s win on Horse of the Year, Summer Pudding at Turffontein, “so I had to take my medicine but I didn’t want to press her and break her rhythm.”

In the straight, “she made up four or five lengths in an instant. She’s really smart,” he concluded.

Gareth van Zyl has done a fine job given the filly’s history of physical problems. It was a win full of merit so it is where to from now for the filly.

 “When you’ve got stamina you’ve got a chance,” the wise words from seasoned horseman Garth Puller after Saint Philip fought off all challengers to win the World Sports Betting Highland Night Cup over 2400m.

Seemingly hopelessly out at the official weights, Saint Philip made nearly all the running.

After developing a habit of missing the break, it all worked out perfectly for Anthandiwe Mgudlwa and the lightly weighted gelding kept rolling to the line to just hold off a fast-finishing Dream Destiny and favourite Bayberry who pressed all the way to the line giving the pair a hefty 10kg.

“In Cape Town he would go the front and they would catch him. He would go to the front and they would catch him. They then he was ridden from behind and he started to miss the break.

“I told ‘Tandi’ the idea was to get him out the pens. He used his initiative and won a good race.”