WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3) – 3200m – R 1 000 000

MASTER REDOUTE              

Trainer: Andre Nel

Jockey: Corne Orffer   

Winner: MASTER REDOUTE Querari (GER) – Lady Redoute (AUS) by Redoute’s Choice (AUS)

BRED: La Plaisance Stud

OWNED: Mrs S Plattner

HKJC WORLD POOL CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1) – 1800m – R 1500 000

DAVE THE KING        

Trainer: Mike De Kock

Jockey: Richard Fourie

Winner: Dave The King Global View (USA) – Touche by Jet Master

BRED BY: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd

OWNED: Messrs L M Nestadt & G J Player & Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs)

MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1) – 1200m – R 1000 000

SURJAY       

Trainer: Brett Crawford

Jockey: Luyolo Mxothwa        

Winner: Surjay Vercingetorix – Something Of Value by Badger Land (USA) BRED BY: Estate Late Dr R J Antrobus OWNED: Mrs S Viljoen

Master Redoute strikes it rich in Gold Cup

Andrew Harrison

Master Redoute did not have the best of luck in the Hollywoodbets Durban July after being one of the chief sufferers in a rough race. “He likes it rough but not quite that rough,” confessed trainer Andre Nel, “but I guess you get what you wish for,” he quipped after Master Redoute had eased through a tight gap to win the Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Jockey Corne Orffer concurred. “I went for a tight gap and hoped that it would not close on me. But that’s what he likes” he said of his mount post-race. 

Quirky Highveld raider Zeus was taken to the front by Grant van Niekerk down the back stretch and opened up a big lead chased by Future Swing and Shoot The Rapids with the balance playing catchup.

The field concertinaed approaching the final turn, Zeus fading early leaving Shoot The Rapids and Future Swing fighting for the lead with a wall of horses challenging including Master Redoute and Ponte Pietra. Future Swing drifted off a straight course close home hampering Shoot The Rapids giving the advantage to Master Redoute who kept on gamely.

Favourite Future Pearl was most disappointing, never looking dangerous. 

Gr1 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Champions Cup

Given the unkindest cut of all on the advice of master trainer Mike De Kock, Dave The King has finally grown into his big frame and he recorded his second Gr1 win in a row when running out a comfortable winner of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champions Cup. Champion jockey elect Richard Fourie, winless on the day until this point, got his mount to settle into a rhythm after “a bit of a messy start,” according De Kock before taking on Purple Pitcher for the lead, a lead that he never relinquished, going to the line a comfortable winner. “When he gets to the front it will take a good horse to beat him,” De Kock concluded. Cousin Casey had to be content with his fourth second placing in as many starts with See It Again and Purple Pitcher dead-heating for third.

Gr1 Mercury Sprint

Surjay, often in the money when up against the best, finally got it all together as he finished with a wet sail to land the Gr1 Mercury Sprint from a luckless favourite Lucky Lad. Always well placed from a handy draw by Louis Mxothwa as Cruise Control set the pace, Surjay quickened smartly when asked and ran all the way to the line chased home by a wall of horses that included Lucky Lad who ran a great race for second.

“I think the key to this race was skipping the Post Merchants where he had a shocking draw,” said trainer Brett Crawford. “I think he was a little over the top for the Golden Horse and he is a horse that likes to race fresh.”

As expected, Lucky Lad had it all to do from his wide draw. He trailed the field in the early exchanges before Richard Fourie started to make up ground approaching the final turn. Wide into the straight, he showed his customary smart turn of foot but the line came too soon and he had to settle for second.

Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes

There are times in horse racing when all theories go out of the window. On all given guidelines when it comes to breeding, Quid Pro Quo defies them all. By a stallion that gets very little support at stud out of an unfashionably bred mare, she is something of a freak and it is horses like her that keeps the spring of horseracing flowing.

A home-bred by Gerald Kalil, the daughter of Lance cemented her claims to being the best two-year-old filly in the country with a stunning victory in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes.

This was her fifth win in succession coming off victories in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship and the Gr2 Golden Slipper and trainer Barend Botes was a little stunned at his achievement. “I never in my wildest dreams ever thought this would come my way.”

The fillies task was made more difficult as she pulled a shoe going to the start and after consultation Botes decided that the course farrier should remove both front shoes.

S’Manga Khumalo, who had been aboard the filly in her previous three starts, got her to jump well and follow Lock And Key, also drawn wide. Quid Pro Quo slotted in just off the pace with Fatal Flaw on her inside.

Lock And Key fell away quickly in the straight as Piere Strydom slipped Fatal Flaw up the inside rail. For a second Khumalo was faced with Lock And Key falling back on him but he switched his mount in to join Fatal Flaw. The pair raced head-and-head for a few strides with the wily Strydom getting extra out of his mount, but Quid Pro Quo finally got the upper hand to win well.

Gr1 World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes 

Tony Peter pulled a rabbit out of the hat as his filly VJ’S Angel put one over the colts in the Gr1 World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes. In a race run at a genuine pace, Family Law set the early fractions jumping from pole position tracked by The Specialist and Grand Crescendo with Calvin Habib having his mount in close attendance. Fancied runners Cosmic Speed, Mount Pinatubo and Legend Of Arthur were well back and with half the race run, left with a mountain to climb. Grand Crescendo and The Specialist joined battle crossing the subway and were still battling it out approaching the line with The Specialist holding a slight advantage.

However, all this time Habib had VJ’S Angel in full cry as she sped down the center of the track to collar the battling rivals and win going away.

“I believed she would always run well here,” said Habib. “She ran on July day but got a little bit scared of the crowd and still ran third behind a really classy filly (Quid Pro Quo). I’m just happy that everything worked out for us.”

“She’s a strong girl. She’s difficult to train but you don’t mind when she’s this good,” said Peter.