Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

A memorable season

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The dust has settled on another highly successful Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal and the 2016 National Championships of South African racing again produced many memorable and exciting finishes as well performances out of the top drawer by both horse and rider.

From the time Bela Bela and Black Arthur opened the Season back in early May with scintillating victories in their respective Guineas all the way through to Marinaresco’s brilliant season-ending emotional and nail-biting success in the Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup, the Season thrilled racing fans around the country and indeed the world. Piere Strydom, who celebrated his 50th birthday during the year, was seen at his brilliant best from the worst of the draw when winning on The Conglomerate in the Vodacom Durban July. Another highlight was certainly Enaad’s Gold Vase/Gold Cup double, the first time ever that this staying double has been achieved.

Not to be outdone Anton Marcus rode the race of his life to get Rabada home in the Daily News, despite dropping his stick at the top of the straight, and Coenie de Beer’s Talktothestars took our breath away when carrying top weight to an effortless victory in the Tsogo Sun Sprint.

Greyville turf track

Greyville turf track

But while all this glorious action was taking place, Gold Circle came under fire for the condition of its turf tracks at both Greyville and Scottsville. While remaining silent at the time, so as not to further shift focus from the quality of racing, Gold Circle now wishes to set the record straight. The Company is satisfied that the condition of the tracks at no stage proved a threat to horse and rider. “Naturally in winter the tracks do not look as green as the summer tracks but the underfoot surface was good throughout the season, notwithstanding the torrential downpours in May and July, each of which delivered more than 200mm of rain within a 24-hour period,” said Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins.

“At Greyville in winter the Cynoden grass takes over from the Kikuyu which results in a mixture of green and brown turf – not aesthetically pleasing but the underlying surface was good and certainly fit for racing. This is borne out by the evidence and feedback we have had from NHA and private veterinarians as well as many of the leading trainers, locally and from around the country, who raced horses throughout the Season at both Greyville and Scottsville. The statistics appear to suggest that fewer injuries occurred during this past Season and KZN Champion trainer, Dennis Drier, was one of the leading trainers who reported that his runners all came through the Season largely unscathed,” added Hawkins.

“Scottsville, like the tracks on the Highveld, is subject to frost in winter and the colour of the turf quickly changes during the course of Champions Season. Unfortunately, the perception of draw bias down the straight persisted but by adding a false rail to the inside of the course we were able to counter this and ensure safe and fair racing for all at our big Sprint race meeting,” concluded Hawkins.

The Equus Awards take place tomorrow evening at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg and the KZN Racing Awards are scheduled for Friday night 26 August at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban.

KZN Award nominees

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The KZN Racing Award takes place at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban on Friday’ August 26, where KZN’s finest will be honoured. The criteria for this year’s awards have been changed slightly and the various racing categories were judged on a “Best Performance” basis by KZN-trained horses – the exception being Horse of the Season that is open to any horse that raced in KZN during the three months of South Africa’s Champion Season.

Ashburton trainers were the only KZN-based trainers to have recorded Gr1 victories over Champions Season with the Paul Gadsby-trained Gunner victorious in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and Weiho Marwing’s Mac De Lago in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

Gunner is up against the two unbeaten colts Hack Green and Red Chestnut Road in the two-year-old male category while Mac De Lago is up against No Worries and Punta Arenas in the Older Male category and has three in opposition in the Best Middle Distance performance where he faces Exit Here, Olma and Same Jurisdiction.

The two-year-old filly’s category is dominated by another Ashburton-based trainer. Duncan Howells has all three of the nominees in his yard these being A Womens Way, Dawn Calling and Lunar Rush.

Best performance by a three-year-old male will be a hotly contested category with Exit Here, Isca, Redcarpet Captain and Ten Gun Salute the nominees.

Anthony Delpech was an easy winner of the KZN Champion Jockey Award judged on most wins in the province while Eric Ngwane will be crowned Champion Apprentice.

Champion Trainer, also judged on most wins in KZN, goes to Dennis Drier who finished on 80 winners, seven ahead of nearest rival Duncan Howells.

A new category is Ride of the Season that will be judged and voted for by the racing public. Watch Tellytrack DSTV 239 for more information on voting for your favourite.

Six races have been singled out, those being:

Anthony Delpech – Black Arthur – Canon Guineas

S’manga Khumalo – Enaad – Gold Vase

Anton Marcus – Rabada – Daily News

Anton Marcus – Zante – Queens Palm Stakes

Weichong Marwing – Exit Here – Cup Trial

Piere Strydom – The Conglomerate – Vodacom Durban July

 

gunner r

Gunning for the future

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Ashburton-based Paul and Beth Gadsby have reason to be optimistic about the future because they have five Gimmethegreenlights in their yard and one of them, Gunner, landed the promising sire his first Gr 1 on Sunday when winning the Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville under Brandon Lerena.

Lerena has shown tremendous courage to come back from a broken vertebrae after a nasty fall in training last September and this was the fifth Gr 1 victory of his career.

Paul Gadsby said, “I have always had big faith in Gimmethegreenlight. As a racehorse he beat Variety Club fair and square twice. Any horse who can do that has to be a champion.”

Gadsby selected Gunner purely on looks at the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale in January last year and was subsequently impressed by the pedigree too. He said, “Gunner was very neat and reminded me of Sea Warrior.”

Gadsby, a former jockey, had broken in and spelled the Vaughan Marshall-trained Gr 1 Richelieu (Cape) Guineas winner Sea Warrior back in the 1980s.

Gunner is out of the decent Captain Al mare Play Nice, who won three times between 1200m and 1300m. Gadsby said, “Two no brainers as broodmare sires are Captain Al and Fort Wood.”

He continued, “I had tried to buy a couple of Gimmethegreenlights previously but couldn’t afford them, but I managed to get Gunner for R200,000 and have bought more Gimmethegreenlights since.”

Gunner was bred by Hassen Adams’ Nadeson Park stud farm. Adams kept a quarter share in the horse and allowed him to stay on his farm while Gadsby put an ownership syndicate together. Gadsby said, “It took me a long time to put him together and I aged five years, but perhaps this is what us KZN trainers have to do, otherwise we are not in the game.”

Gadsby was thankful to prominent KZN owner Morgan Pillay for introducing him to Neshal and Anusha Lalla. Gadsby said, “Neshal and Anusha came up to see Gunner and I told them he was a very nice horse. I told them he would come early and thank goodness I was right about that.” The couple are first-time owners.

Shakthi Banwari and Keith and Melanie Carelse were others to come to the party. Gadsby had advised the latter couple, who are good supporters of his yard, to buy into a “proper” horse.

Gunner won on debut over 1000m on April 10 and was gelded after his next start. Two runs later he was stepped up to 1400m in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and managed to stay on strongly despite having been caught wide throughout the turn.

If only he could find cover in the Premier’s Champions Stakes, he would have to have a shout. The other questions were whether he would stay the trip and whether he would handle the testing, rain affected going.

Gadsby was also concerned by him not having eaten up to his maximum capacity in the week of the race. However, he became upbeat about an hour before the race when the Dennis Drier-trained Hack Green became Gimmethegreenlight’s first stakes winner, hacking up by three lengths in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m.

Brandon Lerena said, “I was very grateful to be given the ride by Mr Gadsby and the owners.”

Lerena spoke of the valuable race riding lessons he had learnt from Gadsby while the latter was chief riding master at the South African Jockeys Academy and of the tremendous support Gadsby had subsequently given him upon renewing his trainer’s license.

Lerena said about Gunner, “He has the whole package, a good action and he is laid back and does what you want. If a stallion is to have a chance he has to be sent the right mares and Gimmethegreenlight looks to have had that. Gimmethegreenlight and Captain Al looks like a nice cross.”

Lerena reined Gunner back early from a tricky draw of seven. The horse responded beautifully and showed no sign of fighting. He was at the back, one wide, but, crucially, was covered up. Lerena said, “At the 450m mark he was the only horse still on the bridle.”

Lerena swung Gunner outward to the centre, but not before noticing 17/20 favourite Zodiac Ruler coming under pressure.

He patiently waited for a gap to open. Gunner then burst through and had caught the leader Africa Rising by the 150m mark. However, the big horse Zodiac Ruler had found top gear and was suddenly in front on the inside.

Gunner, despite probably being the smallest horse in the field, has an impressive stride and once again responded to the powerful and rhythmic urgings of Lerena. He found another gear and passed the favourite inside the 50m pole to win going away by half-a-length. Lerena said, “The way he quickened up was impressive.”

Gadsby was impressed by the courage Gunner had shown in going through the patchy area close to home so well. On the downside the time was 1,11 seconds slower than the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes for two-year-old fillies.

Lerena has experienced plenty of back trouble since making his comeback at the end of Novemner, two months after the fall. However, he is doing extensive excercises under the guidance of a personal trainer to strengthen the back muscles. The always talented rider is eager to be back to 100% well-being in order to chase his ambitions to full capacity.

Gunner has pulled up well and will have a holiday before likely being prepared for the CTS $US500,000 Sales race over 1600m at Turffontein next January.

David Thiselton

Green light for Drier star

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One of the two-year-olds to follow next season is undoubtedly Sunday’s Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner, the Dennis Drier-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Hack Green.

As part owner Hassen Adams remarked after the race, Hack Green had “looked the splitting image of his father” when he saw him at the Sale and he had to have him.

Gimethegreenlight throws them in all sizes and this colt is one of the bigger ones around.

Drier said in the winner’s enclosure on Sunday he had made an early prediction of Hack Green’s ability and had told the connections he felt they had “a bit of a star here”.

Hack Green (Nkosi Hlophe)

Hack Green (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jockey Veale said this “special horse” gave him “a tremendous feel” everyday in work.

Veale was confident after cantering down on Sunday and felt it would take a good one to beat the good looking Varsfontein-bred colt.

He duly rode a confident race, reining his mount back from a wide draw early on.

Hack Green quickened superbly in the straight and burst through the centre to hit the front just before the 100m mark. He went on to win by three lengths.

He is in good hands and the maestro trainer will likely be wanting to put an overall disappointing season by his high standards behind him.

Even then Drier romped home in the KZN Trainer’s championship with 81 winners to Duncan Howells’ 72.

However, the yard lacked a Gr 1 winner for the first time in many a season, and the likely backlash makes the yard’s young horses a must to follow this term.

David Thiselton

Doing it her way

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Midlands breeder Bruce le Roux of Spring Valley Stud was thrilled when an expensive plan came together at Greyville on Sunday courtesy of the Duncan Howells-trained Var filly A Womens Way.

The filly cantered down to the start exceptionally well and returned full of running, despite jumping from a wide draw, and just got up under Ian Sturgeon.

Le Roux said, “It was only her second start and it was a Gr 2, so she has already done what she needed to do and everything from now on will be a bonus.” Le Roux owns the unbeaten Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm Stud-bred filly in partnership with Tinus Gericke.

Le Roux had travelled to last year’s CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale in January in search of a well-bred filly by either Var or Captain Al. He said, “In my opinion A Womens Way was the nicest filly on the sale, but I didn’t think I would have the money.”

Her full sister had cost R900,000 at the previous year’s National Yearling Sale.

Le Roux’s fears were exacerbated when he saw how good A Womens Way looked upon being walked out of her box. Therefore, he asked her to be returned to the box almost immediately.

When the bidding quickly reached R400,000 he became demoralised and was ready to throw in the towel, but his wife jabbed him in the ribs and said “if you want her you must get her”, so he plugged on and managed to land her for his maximum of R500,000.

He said, “We were lucky to get her for that price.”

A Womens Way was backed from 7/1 into 11/2 on debut over 1000m at Scottsville on May 11 and won by 0,75 lengths. The form now looks strong. The Drier-trained filly she beat, Anime, was beaten 2,5 lengths into third over 1200m next time out by subsequent Gr 1 winner Querari Falcon with subsequent KZN Yearling Million winner Lunar Rush filling the second place. Anime then won by 4,75 lengths in her third start over 1000m at Scottsville.

A Womens Way has got her “litte quirks” according to Le Roux and in her second start had to be scratched after being loaded first and then rearing and dumping the jockey.

Michael Shaw is gaining an increasing reputation as a “horse whisperer” and he put in plenty of work at the stalls with A Womens Way, which enabled her to regain her starting stall certificate. Michael was also with her at the start on Sunday, where she was perfectly well behaved. Michael hails from the famous Laird clan. He is the son of Summerveld trainer Therese Micthley, who is the daughter of Russel Laird, brother of Syd. Russel was a fine trainer in his own right.

A Womens Way jumped superbly on Sunday, as progeny of Var often do, and this enabled her to slot into a handy position. She then displayed the kick typical of Var’s progeny and was also able to stave off the determined challenge of Arissa in the closing stages.

Le Roux admitted A Womens Way had her issues but nothing a trainer of Howells class could not handle.

Howells had a fine day on Sunday from beginning to end. He also won a minor race as well as finishing second in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes with Dawn Calling, fourth in the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup with Saratoga Dancer and fourth in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet with Patchit Up Baby.

Ashburton would have been celebrating this week because Paul Gadsby also brought home a trophy, courtesy of Gunner winning the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes.

Le Roux said Howells was of the belief A Womens Way would stay up to a mile in time, so the CTS US$500,000 Sales race to be staged at Turffontein next January over 1600m might be on the cards.

David Thiselton

marinaresco

One-point raise for Marinaresco

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Marinaresco is officially trained by Candice Robinson now and has been accorded a 110 merit rating by the handicappers after winning the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville in impressive style on Sunday.

Durban-based handicapper Mathew Lipps said about the decision to raise the classy colt by just one point, “It was not the strongest Gr 1. In time he will probably be running to a lot higher, but for now he is running to a 110.”

It is not for a long time a horse has been seen in the country with such an exceptional turn of foot.

He made up some seventeen metres in the straight in the Vodacom Durban July and from a hopeless position was beaten just a quarter-of-a-length.

On Sunday he was stopped in his tracks at the 350m mark when two horses came together in front of him. However, despite being jostled and having his momentum affected the diminutive gelding managed to pick up quickly and then rocketed home to win easily. Commentator Craig Peters could not contain his excitement and shouted “Go you baby!!” as the fairytale everybody wanted unfolded.

It was the legendary Cape trainer Mike Bass’s last day before official retirement and he had landed the race named in his honour.

Jockey Grant van Niekerk called Marinaresco the next “Pocket Power”. The latter horse also raced in the famous blue, pink and white colours of Marsh Shirtliff.

However, as it was Marinaresco’s first Gr 1 victory, Mike is unlikely to be as quick to compare him to the great nine-times Gr 1 winner.

Meanwhile, the Gr 2 eLan Property Group Gold Cup winner, the Mike de Kock-trained Enaad, was raised the maximum ten points to 99, although Lipps added he had not raced to any higher than that merit rating.

David Thiselton

Record season for Tarry

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Sean Tarry and S’manga Khumalo were officially crowned Champion Trainer and Jockey respectively with the season coming to an end on Sunday.

Tarry notched a record 209 wins for the season to retain his title and Khumalo 242 for his second, his first coming two years back in 2013. Tarry was key to Khumalo’s success on both occasions and the pair rounded off their season in fitting manner with Hyaku winning the last race at Greyville on Sunday night.

Both Tarry and Khumalo were well clear of their rivals going into the final month of the season and will have been airing their tuxedoes for the Equus Awards weeks ago.

Justin Snaith finished runner-up in the trainer’s championship with 191 winners with Mike Bass –  never crowned National Champion – in third place as he heads into retirement.

Tarry’s runners earned nearly R28 million in stakes, R9 million more than Snaith.

Mike de Kock finished top of the KZN log followed by Gavin van Zyl, Dennis Drier and Duncan Howells.

Bass was champion Western Cape trainer ahead of Snaith while Tarry finished nearly R10 million ahead of second-placed Mike Azzie in the Highveld championship.

The apprentice title proved a lot closer with Lyle Hewitson making heavy inroads into Callan Murry’s lead in the seven months that Hewitson became a licensed apprentice.

Hewitson, who cut his teeth in the work riders ranks finishing champion last season, was in hot demand from trainers who quickly picked up on his talent and used his 4kg claim to their benefit, including Tarry.

Hewitson lost his claim in record time but was still five winners shy of Murray’s 78 winners for the season.

Ingrid and Markus Jooste were once again crowned Champion Owners but it was a close run thing with Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren only R800k behind with Chris van Niekerk in third.

The race for the Champion Stallion title was also a close-run race with the Drakenstein-based Trippi (Ends Sweep) edging out former champion Silvano (Lomitas) on the last day of the season.

Trippi started Sunday’s Group Gold Cup meeting about R800,000 ahead of Silvano but Marinaresco’s win in the R1 million Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Championship had Trippi’s connections on tenterhooks. Had Nightingale managed to win the Gr2 Gold Bracelet, Silvano would have snatched the title on the line. Second place however, was not enough and Silvano fell just short at the final hurdle.

Super sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) once again finished Champion Two-year-old sire ahead of Var (Forest Wildcat) while Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), third on the two-year-old list, was crowned Champion Freshman Sire.

The Varsfontein-based Gimmethegreenlight rounded off his season in fine style with Hack Green winning the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes for Dennis Drier to give his sire his first Graded Stakes winner but the Paul Gadsby-trained Gunner went one better two races later winning the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

Summerhill Stud, who relinquished their Champion Breeders title to Klawervlei two seasons ago after a run of nine straight titles, came back to pip their rivals this term to earn their tenth championship. Again it was a close run thing with Summerhill finishing R600k ahead of their rivals. Third on the Breeder’s log was Lammerskraal with a phenomenal 58.6% winners to runners

The Equus Awards will take place at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg on Tuesday, August 16.

Andrew Harrison

Trippi

Trippi champion sire

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Drakenstein-based stallion Trippi will be crowned National Champion Sire after holding on to his lead on the final day of the season on Sunday, despite Silvano’s son Marinaresco winning a R1 million race and causing a few anxious moments for the former’s connections.

Trippi entered Sunday’s eLan Property Group Gold Cup meeting about R800,000 ahead of former national champion sire Silvano.

The gap closed slightly when the Alec Laird-trained Silvano filly Arissa earned R60,000 for finishing runner up in the Gr 2 R300,000 Debutante Stakes.

However, two races later the Duncan Howells-trained Trippi filly Dawn Calling earned R120,000 for runner spot in the Gr 1 R600,000 Thekwini Stakes.

Silvano had two chances in the Gr 2 R1,25 million eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m, but Balance Sheet finished just out of the money in 6th and Zafira was eighth.

However, the Mike Bass-trained Marinaresco gave the Maine Chance Farms-owned Stallion Silvano a sniff of a second title when earning R625,000 for his brilliant win in the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup. Trippi’s son Baritone earned R25,000 for fifth in the same race.

The next race was the Gr 2 R400,000 Gold Bracelet, where first prize was R250,000, and the Bass-trained Silvano filly Nightingale made a bold bid but could not catch the runaway winner Flying Ice. Trippi was now assured of the title.

The USA-bred stallion by End Sweep remains the most expensive thoroughbred ever imported to South Africa.

Cape Town-based stallion manager John Freeman has said a stallion of the quality of Trippi would never have been landed had it not been for the financial crisis in the USA.

As a three-year-old Trippi won the Gr 1 Vosburgh Stakes over seven furlongs at Belmont Park as well as two Gr 2s over the same course and distance. He won seven races in his career, five of them major stakes races.

In 2005 he finished eighth on the North American first-crop sires list. The following season he was third on the North American second-crop sires list and in 2007 was third on the third-crop list.

In 2008, the year he landed in South Africa, he finished 41st on the general North American Sires list and the following year improved to 34th and then 20th in 2010. He finished 23rd in 2011.

Freeman said Trippi’s progeny had initially been viewed out here as “forward” types and he consequently broke the South African record for having the highest number of two-year-old stakes winners with his first crop.

Freeman said, “That was initially his undoing, but trainers now understand not to rush them and give them the time they deserve and the rewards are coming.”

Trippi has produced four Gr 1 winners in South Africa, including five-time Gr 1 winner Inara, and he also produced the winner of the most expensive race ever run in South Africa, the CTS Million Dollar, won by his son Illuminator. A filly from his last USA crop won a Gr 1 in 2010, while a filly from his previous USA crop, Jealous Again, won the Gr 2 Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs at the Royal Ascot meeting from pillar to post by an impressive five lengths.

David Thiselton

Enaad excites, Marinaresco thrills

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Mike de Kock retained the eLan Gold Cup trophy at Greyville yesterday and this year it was with the Australian-bred High Chaparal gelding Enaad, who provided S’Manga Khumalo with his first win in the country’s premier staying event.

However, the show was stolen in the next race, the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup, by the magnificent three-year-old Silvano gelding Marinaresco, who was brought home by Grant Van Niekerk. Marinaresco’s win gave legendary trainer Mike Bass, after whom the race was named, a perfect end to his official training career as he now hands over the reins to his daughter Candice Robinson.

Newly crowned national champion jockey Khumalo rode a confident race in the Gold Cup in testing ground on a horse who was presented in superb condition.

From his good draw of three, Khumalo sat in the back three down the back straight. He made up ground continually under the hands on the outside as they neared the straight. Khumalo revealed later his charge still had plenty of running in him and he soon hit the front on the standside. The Bass-trained Helderberg Blue relished the step up in trip and charged at Enaad, but it was too late as the latter still had plenty in the tank and won by 1,25 lengths.

S'manga Khumalo leaping dismount from Enaad (Nkosi Hlophe)

S’manga Khumalo leaping dismount from Enaad (Nkosi Hlophe)

Enaad’s stablemate Kinaan was third, despite being officially 4,5kg under sufferance, Ovidio was next best and Master Sabina repeated his fifth place finish of two years ago.

It was De Kock’s fourth Gold Cup victory. Enaad is owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd and was also bred by him.

In the Champions Cup over 1800m Marinaresco looked to be in trouble when a gap closed on him on the outside, after being brought from well off the pace. He had to be snatched up and it was testimony to his class that he was still able to pick up again and rocket through to win by 1,25 lengths from Judicial with No Worries, Saratoga Dancer and Baritone next best. Marinaresco fittingly raced in the colours Marsh Shirliff, the Bass ýard’s most prominent owner in recent times. Shirtliff owns Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Marinaresco in partnership with Bass himself as well as F Green and Bryn Ressell.

Mike and Carol spoke of being humbled to have had the race named after them and Shirtliff paid tribute to them and their highly professional staff.

Earlier, Mike Azzie had gone one better than last year in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m courtesy of Querari Falcon, who was given a patient ride by Anthony Delpech. Querari Falcon gave Maine Chance Farms’ sire Querari his first Gr 1 winner. Delpech, jumping from a tricky draw of eight, was content to sit about five lengths off the lead where he was covered up and beautifully relaxed. The long-striding horse found plenty in the straight to win by a length from the favourite Dawn Calling , who had been handy from the off. Sail was a neck back in third from Safe Harbour and Fortissimus. Querari Falcon was bred by the late BH Botha, Arne J Botha and ME Botha and is owned by Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren.

Hack Green (Nkosi Hlophe)

Hack Green (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes the stallion Gimmethegreenlight landed his first Gr 1 victory with the Paul Gadsby-trained gelding Gunner, who was given a fine ride by Brandon Lerena. It was former jockey Gadsby’s first Gr 1 winner as a trainer since San Carlos won the Star Sprint in 1991. Lerena from a tricky draw of seven was in the last three in the running together with the hot favourite Zodiac Ruler. Gunner had been caught wide in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m last time out when beaten 1,75 lengths by Zodiac Ruler. This time, with cover throughout, he moved through smoothly and was able to fight off Zodiac Ruler to win by 0,5 lengths. Misty Birnam also came from well back in the testing conditions for third, just pipping Africa Rising with Lotus Elan fifth.

Duncan Howells won the first race and made it a double on the card when the Avontuur-bred Var filly A Womens Way ran on well to win the Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m on the turf under Ian Sturgeon, just getting up to deny Arissa. La Revere pipped the favourite, The Merry Widow, who was giving 4kg to the field, for third.

Dennis Drier landed the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m with the big Varsfontein Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt Hack Green,(pictured)  who jumped from a draw of seven and hacked up by three lengths, under a confident ride from Sean Veale, running on strongly from behind. The previously unbeaten Wrecking Ball was second and Hack Green’s stablemate Rocky Valley clinched third ahead of the fading favourite Seattle Singer. This was Gimmethegreenlight’s first stakes winner.

Neil Bruss once again showed his class as a trainer when Flying Ice won the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m under a fine ride by Anthony Delpech. The race was switched to the polytrack after a jockey’s protest. The Lammerskraal-bred Go Deputy four-year-old filly loved her first outing on this surface, bursting through from a handy position to beat a running on Nightingale by 2,75 lengths with the Bruss-trained Deputy Ryder third. The hot favourite Olma over-raced and faded tamely in the straight. Flying Ice is owned by M Paterson. Bruss now departs for another stint training in Saudi Arabia.

Trainer Garth Puller dedicated the win of Ashaawes gelding Asstar in the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the poly to his recently late nephew and talented jockey Christoper Puller. Asstar was ridden by Alec Forbes.

David Thiselton

marinaresco

Marinaresco marvelous

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Marinaresco overcame a wide draw and a troubled passage to land the Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup at Greyville yesterday. It was a fitting send off for Bass to sign off on a race named in his honour as he retired after yesterday’s race meeting.

There were a few anxious moments for the supporters of the 11-10 favourite as he became the meat in the sandwich at around the 400m mark. However, there was no stopping the diminutive son of champion stallion Silvano as he powered through the tight gap, going on to win comfortably from Judicial, No Worries and Saratoga Dancer.

Bass1

Carol and Mike Bass (Nkosi Hlophe)

The early fractions were more suited to a funeral procession than a horserace and it allowed Grant van Niekerk to track wide on the home turn without much effort. Approaching the final two furlongs it was a cavalry charge and there were a number of hard luck stories, most notably Saratoga Dancer who only found daylight when the race was over.

Van Niekerk was lavish in his praise for Bass who recognised a precocious talent and plucked the young jockey out of obscurity, and also for his mount Marinaresco. “You always get nervous before a big race but when you sit on him he does it all for you.”

S’Manga Khumalo, Champion Jockey elect, rounded off a memorable season with a perfectly timed run aboard the Australian-bred Enaad (5-1) to give Mike de Kock back-to-back wins in the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup. He was chased home by Helderberg Blue and Kinaan with Ovidio filling fourth place.

Tucked in towards the back of the field for most of the race as stable companion Kingston Mines set the gallop, Khumalo gradually moved Enaad into contention up the hill and was within striking distance of the lead as the field came off the false rail at the top of the straight.

Along with stable companion Kinaan the pair hit the front with Enaad staying on the better. Helderberg Blue hit a flat spot in the straight but then picked it up smartly and finished strongly for second.

Enaad Gold Cup1

Enaad (Nkosi Hlophe)

“This was one of my goals,” said Khumalo, already a winner of the Vodacom Durban July aboard Heavy Metal in 2013, “and I’m glad to have achieved it.”

“This horse had so much running in him. At the 800m mark I thought to myself that my horse was full of running and I didn’t want to break his stride.”

However, it is anxious times for Khumalo who faces charges of injudicious riding in a race in Port Elizabeth last month.

De Kock said, “He was a horse that was progressing nicely and he had to win the Gold Vase to get in the race. When he won the Vase I was a bit concerned because they don’t often do the double.”

“I wasn’t worried about the penalty because he was so low in the weights I didn’t think it would make any difference.”

“There is still more to come. I don’t think he’s reached his handicap mark as yet,” concluded the trainer.

Querari Falcon and Gunner gave the Equus Award judges a double headache when rounding off the season with victories in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes and the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes respectively. Judging for the awards took place immediately after the running of the Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup.

With two-year-old Gr1’s at a premium, all have produced different results. Dawn Calling was in warm order for the Thekwini Stakes but after battling her way through traffic she was unable to match the finishing burst of Querari Falcon and Anthony Delpech who finished with a wet sail on the favourite’s outside.

It was also a red letter day for Champion freshman sire Gimmethegreenlight who rounded off his first season at stud with a Gr2 winner in Umkhomazi Stakes victor Hack Green and two races later Gunner caused a 25-1 upset in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes for Paul Gadsby with Brandon Lerena aboard.

Ashburton-based Gadsby said he had bought Gunner at the CTS January sale. “I liked the Gimmethegreenlights and this is the one I wanted. Hassen (Adams) was kind enough to let me leave him on the farm for two months. It took me ages to put him together and Hassen kept a quarter. I have a few more Gimmethegreenlights back home so hopefully I’m in the right camp.”

Andrew Harrison