Category Archives: Slipper

final judgement

Kotzen plans come together

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Glen Kotzen experienced the highs and lows of racing at the Vodacom Durban July meeting on Saturday when first winning the Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper with Final Judgement, but later seeing his fancied Shizam scratched from the KZN Yearling Sale Million.

A plan came together in the Golden Slipper after Kotzen and jockey Stuart Randolph had analysed the previous run of the Varsfontein-bred Judpot filly Final Judgement.

In the Listed Devon Air Stakes, over the same Greyville turf 1400m course and distance, she had been cramped for galloping room behind a slow pace, so was unable to use her big action. Late in the race, after a challenger had edged ahead of her, she took off and came back to beat the latter for third place.

Kotzen and Randolph thus planned to go to the front from pole position on Saturday, where she would be able to use her action and it would also put the ball in the court of the other jockeys to use up energy and go around her if they wanted to overcome their wider draws.

She bounced out into the front and strode out nicely on the rail, while two of the dangers, Visuality and Al Hawraa, were trapped wide and burnt up some valuable energy. The eventual third-placed Sail, who looks full of promise, initially used up some energy before being reined in.

Final Judgement

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Final Judgement’s tactics did appear to have played into the hands of the hot odds-on favourite Maleficent, who had been drawn in barrier two. The latter was able to park in behind her on the rail.

However, the second reason for Kotzen and Randolph’s plan proved spot on. After using that big stride to keep Maleficent at bay, Final Judgement was challenged by Dawn Calling late in the race. However, just as the latter put her nose in front, Final Judgement once again picked up a gear and surged to get up by a neck.

Maleficent did not find the kick she had displayed in the Devon Air Stakes and perhaps ran below par.

Kotzen said about Final Judgement, “The further for her the better. We avoided the Allan Robertson, because we knew she would be better suited to the bend.”

However, the connections are in no rush to run her in the Gr 1 Thekwini on eLan Gold Cup day, as they believe she has a fine three-year-old career ahead of her, and will see how the field and the draws look before committing. Dawn Calling and Sail will likely enjoy the 1600m of the Thekwini too.

Final Judgement is owned by Peter De Beyer and Hugo Hattingh’s Triple H Trust.  At last year’s Bloodstock South Africa Val de Vie Sale, Hattingh had arrived with the resolve of not buying any fillies. However, Kotzen asked him to have a look at just one of them, Final Judgement, whom he believed to be the pick of the Sale. It did not take Hattingh long to agree.

Peter de Beyer later arrived and liked the pedigree. She is out of the Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes-winning Proclaim mare Final Claim, who is a daughter of the 1996 ARCSA Champion Broodmare Ollies Last (Highborn Harry), who also produced Gr 1 Cape Guineas-winner Alpha Omega as well as Gr 3-winner Over Bearing. Hattingh and De Beyer  landed Final Judgement for R500,000, which now looks a bargain.

Kotzen said, “I was very pleased for Hugo on Saturday as he has put his money down to buy some well bred horses and it was lovely to see him rewarded. Being out of a Gr 1-winning mare she is now worth bombs.”

Kotzen was also pleased for Peter de Beyer, although the latter is no stranger to success and judging by his record looks to be one of the most intuitive buyers in the country.

A dampener was later put on Kotzen’s day. Apparently noise from revellers unnerved his strongly fancied Kahal filly Shizam as she was leaving the parade ring for the KZN Yearling Million and her left hind leg became caught over the wooden railing, which is on the left hand side of the chute entrance. She had blood on the leg and was scratched down at the start. The injuries have proved to be superficial. However, the incident was costly to the owners, who could have recouped plenty of costs and more.

Gold Circle will be looking into the structure of the parade ring at the entrance to the chute to see whether any changes could lessen the chances of a repeat of such an incident. The KZN Million was moved this year from the last race on the day to the ninth, due to it being dark by the 12th and the crowd by that stage being rowdy. There might now be renewed requests to bring it forward even further.

David Thiselton

The Conglomerate comes up trumps

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Few saw it coming. Even trainer Joey Ramsden was sceptical beforehand, even more so after The Conglomerate drew the extreme outside gate. But under a superb tactical ride from Piere Strydom the 20-1 shot pulled off a memorable win in yesterday’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

Always handy Strydom moved his mount through smoothly under hands and heels to hit the front 200m out and had the race in the bag in a matter of strides. The diminutive Marinaresco came from the rear of the field to finish a neck second.  There was a scramble for the minor placings with Mac De Lago getting up late for third to deny It’s My Turn with rank outsider Saratoga Dancer also running on well in fifth.

Favourite, the grey filly Bela-Bela, was finishing off her race but never threatened. With the tote paying six places she did just enough to save place punters.

It was a belated birthday present for an emotional Strydom who turned 50 last month. It was also a fourth win for Strydom in the country’s richest race and his second from the widest draw after getting home narrowly aboard Pomodoro in 2012.

Ever the professional Strydom was offered the ride on Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Mac De Lago who looked a better proposition, but he had already committed to ride for the Jooste’s and their racing manager Derek Brugman even though retained rider Anton Marcus had the pick of the rides.

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

“It was an exceptional ride,” said Ramsden, “Although he should thank his compardres in the weighing room. They let him in so easily.”

“This is always a great day. I have been coming here for 18 years and it’s always great racing.”

He had a consoling word for the owners of second-placed Marinaresco. They must be sad an heartsore. Marsh (Shirtliff) and Bryn (Ressell) are good friends of mine and great owners.”

A win for Marinaresco would have signed off on a memorable career for trainer Mike Bass who retires at the end of the month.

There are no immediate plans for the winner with the eLan Gold Cup and the Mike and Carol Bass Champion Stakes coming up at month’s end. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t stay (the Gold Cup trip) but he will be at the top of the handicap. It’s up to Derek to decide.”

Dubai is an unlikely option. “I’m not quite sure he’s good enough,” Ramsden said.

Marinaresco must now rate as the best three-year-old in the country as he came from last at the top of the straight. He showed a tremendous turn of foot and ran past all but The Conglomerate with ease although Ramsden was never worried. “I think Piere knew he had it in the bag.”

Weiho Marwing gave Mac De Lago the thumbs up. “He ran a great race.” Brother Weichong said French Navy had every chance even though he missed the break but was not suited to the slow pace.

There were some hard luck stories. Solid Speed returned with a nosebleed while both Triple Crown hero Abashiri and St Tropez, stable companion to the winner, returned lame.

Inara (Nkosi Hlophe)

Inara (Nkosi Hlophe)

Star filly Inara finally broke her KZN hoodoo and landed her fifth Gr1 with victory in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Unplaced last year behind Same Jurisdiction, she put the record straight as she ground out a win from off a strong pace to keep Strydom at bay and a Gr1 double as Olma finished with a rattle but too late to make a difference to the result. Pacemaker Bichette stayed on for third.

“Things didn’t go right for her last year,” said Candice Robinson assistant to her father Mike Bass who hands over the reins his daughter come the end of the month.  This could well be Bass’s final Gr1 of his career and winning rider Grant van Niekerk was profuse in his praise as it was Bass who recognised his talent and gave a raw jockey, just recently out of his apprenticeship, the plum job of stable jockey.

What made the win more special is that Inara has now won in three different centres, having won the Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein back in April and three others in her home town.

Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Second in the Vodacom Durban July last year when trained by now retired Stan Elley, Punta Arenas did not make this year’s final field but made up for it by winning the “July” consolation, the DELTA Air Lines 2200m. Now with Dennis Drier, Punta Arenas kept finding extra to deny the Mike de Kock pair of The Centenary and Alghadeer, the latter failing to reach his reserve when offered for auction last week.

Second and third in the DELTA Airlines, De Kock trumped that with a 1-2-3-4 in the SABC Gold Vase over 3000m.

Kingston Mines was sent out as the hare and opened a good few lengths on his rivals coming up the hill at the 800 m mark. He kept finding in the straight but was challenged by Smart Mart. These two looked to have the race to themselves before Enaad finished with a wet sail, running them both down in the shadow of the post with Kinaan finishing the best of the others to snatch fourth.

Leading all the way, Final Judgement pulled of a 25-1 surprise in the Gold Circle Golden Slipper, rallying under a strong ride from Stuart Randolph to narrowly hold off the attentions of Dawn Calling and Sail. Odds-on favourite Maleficent, prominent throughout surrendering tamely to finish unplaced.

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jumping from pole position, Randloph had no hesitation taking Final Judgement to the lead with Muzi Yeni slotting Dawn Calling perfectly into position behind the favourite.

Once in the straight Maleficent left Dawn Calling in the clear and she was left to chase home Final Judgement.

Two-year-old male form has been muddling but Zodiac Ruler put up his hand with a superb victory in the Durban Golden Horseshoe.  The imposing Justin Snaith-trained colt was again slow out of the gate and found himself at the tail end of the field.  “They went very fast. That suited me,” said rider Richard Fourie.

Duncan Howells was super confident of the chances of his filly Lunar Rush in the KZN Yearling Sale Million and so it proved. Anthony Delpech took the race by the scruff from the start and the result was never in doubt. This was the second win in the race for Howells who also scored with crack filly Same Jurisdiction two years back.

 

 

Trophy Wife looking fine

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The Sean Tarry-trained filly Trophy Wife travelled down to Summerveld today for her Vodacom Durban July engagement on Saturday and looked fine upon exiting the float at about 2pm.

Tarry said, “I am happy with her and I don’t think the 2200m trip is a concern. It is a rough race and you need a heap of luck, but it won’t be a bother if she loses her usual one or two lengths at the start as she is drawn wide and we are going to come from off them anyway.”

S’Manga Khumalo rides Tropy Wife from draw 14.

Meanwhile, French Navy and Samurai Blade have both been doing well at Summerveld.

Jockey Weichong Marwing said he would have preferred a wider draw for French Navy, who is drawn in barrier four. However, Tarry did not envisage a problem. He said if the pace was slow French Navy could well find himself handier than usual, which would be fine. However, if they went hard he would be happy to see him well back. He said the big horse would simply be kept where he was comfortable.

Samurai Blade will be ridden by Andrew Fortune. However, Lyle Hewitson rides him regularly in work and said the July Gallop was the best he had ever felt him, so he could be a dark horse from a plum draw of six.

Tarry felt he had a strong chance with Visuality and Myfunnyvalentine in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper, but seemed more bullish about the former due to her draw of seven compared to the latter’s barrier position of ten. He felt Visuality could well be looking for the 1400m trip and it certainly looked that way when she finished strongly for a close third in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m. Piere Strydom has stayed aboard.

David Thiselton

Shizam on song for July Day

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Glen Kotzen only has two runners at the Vodacom Durban July meeting, but could well find himself in the winners enclosure during the day.

Seven years ago Kotzen walked away from the VDJ meeting with two Gr 1 trophies as his Equus champion Three-year-old Colt Big City Life won the July and his Equus Champion Three-year-old Filly Lady Windermere won the Garden Province.

This year he has a fine chance of landing the majority share of the KZN Yearling Sale Million stake cheque with the Kahal filly Shizam.

Shizam has some fine maiden form in Cape Town. She got off the mark last time out on April 23 over 1200m in her fifth career start, having placed before that behind some top class sorts like the Secret Is Out and The Merry Widow. She won that Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies by 0,5 lengths from subsequent winner China Pearl and had the rest of the field beaten 6,75 lengths. Two other horses have subsequently won out of the race and she beat them by 9,75 lengths and eleven lengths respectively.

Her pole position draw on Saturday is ideal as she has plenty of pace.

Kotzen said on pedigree she should stay an extra 500m, so the 100m extra of the 1300m trip will pose no problem. She has been at Summerveld for at least six weeks and is fit and well.

He described her as a forward-thinking filly who does not race green, so experiencing the course and the lights for the first time should not be a concern.

“She is a huge runner,” he concluded.

He said his runner in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper, the Judpot filly Final Judgement, was “exceptionally well and working like a bomb.” He said she had been caught flat-footed when beaten 5,25 lengths by Maleficent in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over the same 1400m course and distance as she had raced very green in her first experience of the course. He concluded by saying there was room for “big improvement.” She is also drawn in pole.

Stuart Randolph rides both fillies.

David Thiselton

Desert Fighter (Nkosi Hlophe)

Right race for Desert Fighter

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Dennis Drier and Alistair Gordon could have winners at Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July meeting with Desert Fighter and Royal Line respectively.

Both trainers have a number of other chances at the meeting.

Desert Fighter runs in the second, the Middle Stakes over 1400m on the poly, and jumps from a plum draw of two with stable jockey Sean Veale aboard. He was a bit slow away over 1600m on the poly last time so had a lot to do in the straight and ran on well for a close second. His two wins have been over 1200m, so this trip should be ideal. The yard described this Toreador three-year-old gelding as a progressive sort and added,  “This looks to be the right race for him.”

Desert Fighter (Nkosi Hlophe)

Desert Fighter (Nkosi Hlophe)

Royal Life runs in the last, the Listed Business Solutions Handicap over 1600m on the turf. He has S’Manga Khumalo up from a good draw of six. He over raced in his penultimate start over 1400m, but still won easily and impressively. He over raced again over the Greyville turf 1600m last time, yet still ran on well and was pipped by a whisker. Gordon has now tried a new bit with him and he has consequently settled much better in his work. If he does the same in the race on Saturday, he will be a big runner as Gordon is happy with his well-being and with the draw and jockey.

The Drier yard are hoping Sail will be more settled on course than she was last time, when bouncing around a bit yet still managing to win a Juvenile Plate over 1400m. If she is this talented Philanthropist filly could be the chief threat to Maleficent in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper over the same course and distance from a plum draw of four.

The yard run last year’s July runner up Punta Arenas in the Gr 3 Delta Air Lines 2200 and said he was fit and well. He looked well in his workout on Tuesday morning.

Gr 1-winning sprinter Guiness has “been going through the motions” so blinkers will be fitted and he has been working well in them, although he has a tough draw in the Compendium MR 103 Handicap over 1000m.

The yard are hoping blinkers will have the same affect on Eventual Angel, a talented sort capable of surprising from a plum draw in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workeear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.

Gordon could not separate Royal Life and Bunker Bill as his best runner on the day. Talented three-year-old Bunker Bill loved the step back to 1200m last time and won easily. He goes on the poly for the first time over 1200m in the tabGold Sprint and has Piere Strydom up from draw six, albeit off a merit rating which has been raised six points.

Gordon said Velvet Wind was well, but might find the 1400m of the first a touch short, although he expected her to be running on. He expected Sublime Code to be suited to a step up to 1400m in the second and said he was also fit and well.

David Thiselton

Maleficent (Nkosi Hlophe)`

Slipper next for Maleficent

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J&B Met-winning trainer Alec Laird believed he had landed a bargain when securing Judpot filly Maleficent for R160,000 at the Bloodstock SA Val De Vie Sale last year and she proved it at Greyville on Saturday when winning the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m in fine style to give her regular rider Weichong Marwing the first leg of a feature race double.

Maleficent (Nkosi Hlophe)`

Maleficent (Nkosi Hlophe)

Her value had already been made greater recently by her full-brother Rocketball, who came close to upsetting Triple Crown hero Abashiri in the Gr 1 SA Derby before finishing a decent fourth in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000.

Maleficent ran green almost throughout on Saturday, but still managed to beat the always handy Querari Falcon by 3,25 lengths, an amazing margin considering how long she took to get going.

She is unbeaten in two starts over 1400m, having lost narrowly on debut over 1200m, and has put a total of 8,75 lengths between herself and the opposition.

Laird said, “She is a strong girl.”

He added she would likely line up for the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day and he would play it by ear from there.

Laird won the colt’s equivalent of that race, the Durban Golden Horseshoe, with another progeny of Judpot, Forest Indigo, in 2013.

Both events have been downgraded from Gr 1 to Gr 2 this year.

Maleficent, who is owned by Chris Gerber and was bred by Shirluck Stud, has landed a plum draw of two among the 28 nominations for the Golden Slipper.

By David Thiselton

july c

Huge entry for July day

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With 180 entries received for the six feature races supporting the R4.25-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July at Greyville Racecourse on July 2, one might believe there is not a single top horse from anywhere in the country that is not aimed at Africa’s Greatest Horseracing extravaganza.

With the announcement of the final field for the 2 200m blue ribbon event not due for nearly two weeks, the plans for some of the hopefuls are still in limbo resulting in the largest entry for the meeting being for the R500 000, Grade 3 Delta Airlines 2200 – the race normally targeted by horses that do not make the final cut for the premier event – and this year there are 48 of them.

The R1-million, Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1 600m has attracted 21 entries including super filly Bela-Bela as well as the likes of Inara, Silver Mountain, Entisaar and Negroamaro.

The two R600 000, Grade 2 juvenile races, the Durban Golden Horseshoe and the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, have both drawn large nominations with 37 entered for the colts race and 28 for the fillies.

The R500 000, Grade 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3 000m has drawn the 29 best stayers in South Africa.

It all points to another bumper Vodacom Durban July meeting where about 50 000 will cram into the Greyville course and together with punters from around the country, wager hundreds of millions of rands on the meeting.

 

Dean Kannemeyer & Lady Christine Laidlaw

Solid Speed on familiar path

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History has been given a chance of repeating itself in more ways than one after the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Solid Speed’s win of the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 on Friday night at Greyville.

Kannemeyer arrived in KZN without a serious Vodacom Durban July horse last season and ended up winning it with Power King.

Solid Speed, thought previously to be more of a Gold Cup horse, now has a chance of repeating the dose and jockey Anthony Delpech said after the race, “He is definitely a July horse and with a chance.”

However, pressed on whether he wanted the ride, he obviously stalled.

Delpech, as a high profile jockey who has won the July a record equalling four times and has a normal riding weight of just 53,5kg, will be spoilt for choice.

The ruling 9/2 favourite with Betting World, Black Arthur, is likely first choice in his mind at present.

However, Solid Speed has shortened from 20/1 into 10/1 and is best priced of the older horses alongside initial favourite Legal Eagle, whose participation is up in the air.

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed was one of the best weighted horses under Friday night’s conditions and under the new handicapping guidelines looks likely to be raised only three points to a merit rating of 106.

That was the exact mark Power King won the July off. As things stand he will, like Power King, scrape into the handicap with the minimum weight for an older male of 53kg.

The final history-repeating fact is Solid Speed’s colours, the same as Power King’s.

Owner Lady Christine Laidlaw was not on course on Friday night, but could perhaps have been watching from Cape Town. Power King’s ears might have pricked at any celebratory cheers as he is now enjoying his retirement on Lady Laidlaw’s Goede Hoop estate in Noordhoek.

It was a fine ride by Delpech. Dynamic had been expertly slotted in by Grant van Niekerk from a wide draw, while the fast early pace had also allowed Delpech to ease inward from draw 9. He sat behind Dynamic one wide in midfield.

However, coming up the hill he switched his mount outward, due to the pace slowing “and he has such a big stride”. It might have been a race-winning move because he was able to enter the straight with plenty of momentum and steal a march on Dynamic. The latter looked to have no excuses 2,15 lengths back in third and like last year it will be touch and go whether he qualifies for the big race.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

 

The runner up St Tropez ran in strongly from near the back and can be considered a touch unlucky. The stipendiaries called a review after Solid Speed had hung outward, but not surprisingly no further action was taken. However, although St. Tropez’s momentum or stride was not affected, he did have to change course slightly and was only beaten a neck.

It was a fine come back run for St Tropez, who being by Silvano will likely be coming into his own as a four-year-old. He has always had class and has duly shortened from 55/1 to 14/1 in the July betting. However, if raised the likely two points to 101 he will, as things stand, be officially 2,5kg under sufferance in the July.

The Conglomerate was also expertly ridden by Anton Marcus in the early stages which allowed him to slot in behind Solid Speed from a wide draw.

He plugged on steadily in the straight, finishing 2,2 lengths back in fourth, and looks likely to appreciate the step up in trip in the July. He was 0,5kg under sufferance with Dynamic and might possibly be given a one point raise to 102, but this will still leave him 2kg under sufferance in the July as things stand. Nevertheless, he shortened in the betting from 14/1 to 12/1.

It Is Written had every chance in finishing a 2,45 length fifth and King Of Pain also had few excuses 2,95 lengths back in sixth.

Master Switch and Greek Legend were likely ridden too handy in the overall fast-paced race to be at their most effective and were disappointing in sixth and seventh respectively.

Dynamic, meanwhile, has shortened from 125/1 into 25/1 for the July and this is the same price as an earlier impressive winner on the card, Paterfamilias.

However, Mike Bass’ assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe had his doubts Paterfamilias, whose issues have been helped at Summerveld by the use of the Equi-Spa, would line up for the big race as he still had plenty of other options for this season and next. The Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge will be his chief aim this season.

Fayd’Herbe added Silver Mountain was found to have had a few niggles with her feet after her disappointing Daisy Fillies Guineas run, but had recovered well. However, he said she would likely avoid the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 in favour of the Tibouchina over 1400m, so the July looks likely to no longer be on her radar. This makes sense as Nightingale will be a huge runner in the Woolavington and is doing well at Summerveld.

The most impressive July trial of the weekend was undoubtedly by the Bass-trained Marinaresco, who won the Gr 3 Winter Classic over 1800m easing up and he has duly shortened to 8/1 second favourite.

Neil Bruss has a high regard for his filly Deputy Ryder, who won Friday night’s Listed East Cost Cup, and even entered her for the July. She looks one to follow in the staying features and will be a big runner in the Track and Ball Oaks.

The two-year-old winners on Friday night, the Mike de Kock-trained Misty Birnam and the Dennis Drier-trained Sail, caught the eye. Drier said Sail was likely to avoid Scottsville in favour of the Golden Slipper on July day.

By David Thiselton

Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

Drier’s racing achievement

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Summerveld maestro Dennis Drier has won many Gr 1 races in recent seasons but was still unable to contain his emotions after managing one of the best days of his career on Vodacom Durban July day on Saturday. He won both of the two-year-old Gr 1 events on the card and later added a first and third in a Non-Black type sprint.

Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

He said, “You dream of winning races like this and this is unbelievable.”

The veteran trainer had two Gr 1 winners on a day for the first time at Scottsville earlier this year, so only appears to be getting better.

On Saturday his filly Chestnuts N Pearls provided the great Horse Chestnut with his first South African-bred Gr 1 winner and his second Gr 1 winner overall when sweeping through to land the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m by 1,5 lengths under Sean Cormack.

Later his top class Seventh Rock colt Seventh Plain fought back in courageous fashion to get up by a short-head in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m under Anton Marcus.

Seventh Plain will likely be named Equus two-year-old male of the year as he also won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and on Saturday he beat the Gr 1 SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat into third.

Chestnut N Pearls was bred by Nutfield Stud and is owned by Jaap van der Vendel’s Vendel Civils, Mark Currie and Mayseh Chetty. Currie, who was having his third Gr 1 winner, and Chetty were both on course to lead her in. Chetty has had 120 winners in his seven year ownership career, but this was his first Gr 1 success.

He said, “I’m very proud, it’s exciting to have a Gr 1 winner and on July day.” The filly was purchased at Bloodstock South Africa’s Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale for R240,000 last year so will have a big money sales race to look forward to next year.

Drier had initially planned to put her away after her run in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville, but jockey Cormack had advised that the 1200m trip had simply been too short, and she had also had to come from an unfavourable high draw, so he recommended she run in the Slipper. His advice proved spot on. She now might even take her place in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m on Super Saturday.

Chestnuts N Pearls (Nkosi Hlophe)

Chestnuts N Pearls (Nkosi Hlophe)

Drier hails from a famous racing dynasty, who were once labelled “The Sob Mob” by his Uncle Russell Laird (“When we win we cry, when we lose we smile”), so it was little surprise to see him in tears in the winner’s enclosure after the filly’s fluent win.

In the Golden Horseshoe the Dominic Zaki-trained Arabian Beat overcame a wide draw to lead from the off and looked to have an apparently under pressure Seventh Plain beaten 100m out. The danger looked to be the well supported Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained maiden Brazuca, who was flying on the inside. However Seventh Plain then suddenly found his big stride and surged through the centre to beat Brazuca by a short-head with Arabian Beat a head further back. Drier said, “He’s an absolutely amazing horse. Anton said he was very green. I didn’t think he could win half way down the straight, but that is what top horses are made of and top jockeys.”

Drier believes this big colt has a very bright future, so he will likely be put away and aimed at the Cape Summer Of Champions Season, although this will depend on owner Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman.

Seventh Rock has had a Gr 1 winner in each of his first two crops, the first of them being Guiness who was also trained by Drier. Seventh Rock was trained by Drier’s cousin Charles Laird and owned by Markus Jooste and the latter also owns both Guiness and Seventh Plain. Seventh Plain was bred by Klawervlei Stud.

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Later Drier won the eThekwini Sprint over 1200m on the poly with the classy three-year-old Var colt Generalissimo and his promising Trippi gelding Triptique flew up for third. The win confirmed a change in fortunes for owner Nick Jonsson, who had won an earlier race on the day having enjoyed a luckless Champions Season up until then. One of Generalissimo’s finest assets is his gatespeed and he had missed the break in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville after standing in stalls for close to five minutes and later Jonsson’s three-year-old Justin Snaith-trained Jet Master gelding Ultimate Dollar had to be scratched from the start of the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 after kicking the back of the gate. Both horses won on Saturday. Generalissimo is now unbeaten in two starts on the poly and  Ultimate Dollar proved what a big runner he would have been in the Daily News by winning the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 in fine style from start to finish under S’Manga Khumalo. Jonsson owns Generalissimo in partnership with his father Benji and Ultimate Dollar in partnership with RD Hamilton’s Evanstan Investments.

Khumalo’s other winner on the day was aboard the Charles Laird-trained Resolution, who won her swansong on the poly before going to stud. Resolution’s part-owner Alesh Naidoo competed with Jonsson for owner of the day as he also owned the winner and third-placed horses in the KZN Yearling Sale Million, the Dennis Bosch-trained Clifton Stud-bred AP Answer gelding Cutting Edge and the Charles laird-trained Chosen Dash, and he also owns the Laird-trained Bold Inspiration, who finished second in a Listed event.

By David Thiselton