INDEPENDENT ON SATURDAY DRILL HALL STAKES (Grade 2)
R500 000 – 1400m
ROYAL AUSSIE
Trainer: Justin Snaith
Jockey: Richard Fourie
| Winner: ROYAL AUSSIE BRED BY: Klawervlei Stud OWNED: Mr D A Squance, Mrs S Viljoen & Dr J A Warner |
WORLD SPORTS BETTING FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)
R 500 000 – 1600m
RASCOVA
Trainer: Glen Kotzen
Jockey: Craig Zackey
Winner: RASCOVA
BRED BY: Cheveley Stud
OWNED: Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd
WORLD SPORTS BETTING GUINEAS (Grade 2) – R500 000 1600m
GREEN WITH ENVY
Trainer: Dean Kannemeyer
Jockey: Craig Zackey
Winner: GREEN WITH ENVY
BRED BY: Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd
OWNED: Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd
Rivals now ‘Green With Envy’
Andrew Harrison
Those with abiding memories will remember the Terrance Millard-trained Illustrador. Rupert Ellis Brown over 1400m at Clairwood, the then Gr1 SA Guineas at Greyville, the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and then the Rothmans July followed by a third in the Gr1 Clairwood Winter before winning the then Gr1 Gold Cup. Clairwood is sadly no longer but Green With Envy is certainly headed along the same track as he scored an emphatic victory in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 8 May 2024.
Many pundits thought the ‘mile’ would be on the short side and just a dress rehearsal for the Gr1 Daily News 2000, but as trainer Dean Kannemeyer illuded to post race, his charge has matured and after yesterday’s performance is likely to be at the top of the boards in the ante-post market for the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The Guineas was a feature double for Craig Zackey after earlier scoring on Rascova and denying Richard Fourie a fourth winner on the day after a disappointing second on Double Grand Slam.
Fourie set the pace on Snow Pilot but his mount appeared uncomfortable on the right-handed turn and drifted in badly when under pressure. Hot favourite Sandringham Summit only had Green With Envy behind him turning for home and looked the likely winner when Gavin Lerena made his move. However, Zackey had him firmly in his sights and Green With Envy whistled by inside the last 100m to win rather comfortably.
South Africa’s Champions Season is well titled and the dangers of labelling champions before Champions Season is done is always risky, and Green With Envy could well be the envy of all come the end of the season. Double Grand Slam looked to be a solid exotic bet banker on the day in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas but things didn’t work out as planned for the many punters that had placed their faith in her.
The Glen Kotzen-trained Rascova had matched Double Grand Slam on two previous occasions and many well have been lulled into a false sense of security after Double Grand Slam had put her rival to bed comfortably in their last meeting, not aware that Rascova had battled home under a slipped saddle.
The fortunes went the other way yesterday. Double Grand Slam was a tad slow out of the gate and Fourie found himself taking the scenic route for the first part of the race.
In contrast, Craig Zackey had Rascova out in front and with a strong tailwind to help them home, he was always going to be difficult to peg back.
Double Grand Slam made a fist of it as she moved up alongside Rascova in the straight who had drifted to the outside fence and making things a little tight for Double Grand Slam. There was little in it at the line but Rascova held her advantage with the balance of the field headed by White Pearl a long way back.
Royal Aussie landed the odds in a tight finish to the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes, giving Fourie his third winner of the afternoon.
It was a game win by the son of Royal Mo as he clipped heels with tiring pacemaker Archimedes at the top of the straight and as Fourie commented post-race, it was stop start from there on. However, he took the shortest way home and managed to hold off a telling late challenge from Cousin Casey and Gladatorian.
Next stop for Justin Snaith’s charge will be the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge early next month.
Cousin Casey, back on his favourite track, was a touch unlucky as S’Manga Khumalo had to wait for a gap to open, a couple of seconds that may have cost him the race as he was eating up the ground. But Sean Tarry will no-doubt also have the Gold Challenge as Cousin Casey’s next target. Gladatorian was always hand with the strong tailwind helping them home and was game in defeat.
Title-chasing Fourie is the jockey equivalent of a tidal wave as he added another four winners to his tally in his run at the record of 334.
Given his number of mounts and that he flits from racecourse to racecourse, the fact that he has only picked up one suspension is remarkable. The suspension is for one strike over the 12 limit at Hollywoodbets Scottsville resulting in a ridiculously over-the-top two-week suspension and an R8k fine.
He will no doubt appeal the sanction and should he manage to ride every day until the end of the term, he could well threaten a total of 400 for the season.
