Andrew Harrison

THE Marula Sprint (Non-Black Type) was always going to be a tricky affair given the quality of the field but it was a race that was always going to pan out for winner Pearl Of Asia.

Robbie Hill’s gelding possesses a smart turn of foot but for him to be most effective he needs a solid early pace from the front runners and that’s just what he got at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Ziva La Winter and Celebration Rock set the desired pace and Donovan Dillon was content to sit off the early gallop before moving into contention up the inside fence. It was soon clear that it was going to take a good one to blunt his challenge and Pearl Of Asia scored comfortably from an ever game Good Rhythm to give Dillon his third success of the afternoon.

The was some serious scrimmaging as riders hunted gaps coming through the two-furlong mark, chief victim being Solid Gold who was the meat in the sandwich and squeezed out to last.

Mike Miller is having a tremendous trot with his two-year-olds and Edgartown was another to oblige in the card opener. However, Edgartown may have been a tad lucky to survive an objection lodged by Donovan Dillon aboard second-placed Crested Eagle.

Edgartown had been re-schooled after missing his first engagement due to unruly behaviour at the start, but it was all good yesterday as Ashton Arries had his mount out and galloping in a matter of strides, never to be headed.

About 150m from the line, Crested Eagle was looming large on his outside when Edgartown, racing green, shifted across Crested Eagle forcing Dillon to snatch up and track to the inside.

 Arries, cleverly, pushed his mount out to the line under hands the last bit with Dillon hard at work on Crested Eagle. There is no doubt that Crested Eagle was closing on the winner but not fast enough to force the issue according to the stipendiary board.

Ashburton-based Shane Humby has a reputation for not being hard on his horses and as a result many of them don’t see the racetrack too often. His general philosophy being, if the horse is not happy within itself, it doesn’t run – that’s not to say that they are all good enough to win!

Humby and first call stable rider Donovan Dillon banged home a quick double with Star Act obliging in the second and Purple And Green doing the honours in the next. Star Act, nicknamed ‘Pumpkin’ at home, put in a sustained finish to run down Flying The Star while Purple And Green fell off the early pace but picked it up when it mattered to get the better of Final Destiny.

There was drama in the seventh with Solar Flare being declared a non-runner. Solar Flare appeared to be hampered as the gates were sprung and others, most notably Sofia Erin and Wildly In Love were slow to go, Sofia Erin being restrained by her rider and fighting for her head before settling.

The race went to recent maiden winner Calulo who went back-to-back with Michael Roberts keeping faith with light-weight apprentice Mfanelo Zuma.

Many Pick 6 hopes rested on East Coast Star going into the last but after hitting the front early in the home straight, she was swamped close home as Jarred Samuel threaded Tinnie Prinsloo’s filly Love Of London through the pack.

Ashburton-based Prinsloo has been holding his own since arriving from Kimberley while Samuel seldom gets opportunities on horses with chances.

Once Covid restrictions are eased, he will take up a work riders’ position in Hong Kong.