Andrew Harrison

Mike Miller is having a phenomenal run of late with five winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Saturday and carrying on where he left off as Skytrix made a winning debut in the card opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Given a copybook ride by stable rider Tristan Godden, the daughter of Vercingetorix made a winning debut as she stayed on well to shake off the attentions of the more seasoned runners and repel the challenge from fellow debutante Nellie Melba who finished off her race nicely and should not be long in going one better.

MJ Odendaal has always had a high regard for Addabar, Rabada spelt backwards but with an added D to make for seven letters, and his judgment has been on the mark as the gelding skated home to his fourth win in just nine starts. According to Odendaal he may possibly have another outing before receiving his second compulsory AHS vaccination and then be readied up for a crack at Champions Season.

Addabar blotted his copybook last time out but Odendaal revealed that he had a dodgy blood picture which probably accounted for the disappointing effort.

The blood was right yesterday as Calvin Habib took him to the front and was not for the catching put five lengths on his field with favourite Pirate Prince failing to fire, Capetown Beauty and Paris Pike fighting it out for the minor money.

Barring accidents Richard Fourie is an odds-on shot for the national jockey’s championship as he streaks away from his nearest rival in Muzi Yeni. Fourie is getting support in all of the centres and won 15 races in KZN last month.

He was on the money again for Garth Puller as Flagman proved too strong for his rivals in the third. The colt’s antics in the gate could well prompt a visit from the vet but he has made natural progression and looks capable of winning a few more. First timer Shoot The Rapids was a distant second but also well clear of the rest in a promising debut for Frank Robinson.

The Michael Roberts yard has been a little quiet of late, See It Again is last winner, and consequently also rubbing off on his stable rider Rachel Venniker. Roberts alluded to the fact that his horses tend to go a little ‘off’ once they have had their AHS vaccinations, hence the slow run of form but Piece By Piece got it all together for the trainer and rider combination as the filly held off a challenge from rank outsider Sweeter Than Honey to win the fourth. Fourie made an ambitious move up the hill on Weststockmarketborse but it came to naught as he was tracked down by Piece By Piece and Sweeter Than Honey.

Two races later, the combination were back in the winner’s enclosure as Umhlali put in a determined finish to touch off Drive By with Chase Maujean looking for his second winner. Owner Tommy Crowe has a bit of a ‘thing’ with towns in the east of the country with many of his horses named after towns in that area, Umhlali, Nonoti and Ermelo just three that come to mind. 

The one watchword for owners in racing is ‘patience’. Add to that, deep pockets and a bit of luck, and you have the perfect owner. Pascali has been one of those trying horses that needs it all to go his own way and it did yesterday as Puller went home with a double. Chase Maujean has struck up a relationship with Louis Goosen and was in town for three rides but he has also been a regular aboard Pascali. He’s a horse that ‘doesn’t have a trip’ and a mind of his own according to Puller and Maujean concurred. The win was something of a surprise but Pascali quickened smartly off a genuine pace and won with plenty in hand that suggests that he has a win or two left in him.

Regular paddock observers often got pointers from watching trainers and their patrons. When legendary trainer Herman Brown Snr was surrounded by owners, you knew it was ‘game on’.  Yesterday the word was out early that Dennis Bosch was ‘suited up’. Dennis is always a natty dresser but when he arrives on course dressed in a suit, you know it’s ‘game on’. Judged on his post-race comments, he was expecting a bigger day than just one winner but Diani obliged, Serino Moodley getting him home in the shadow of the post to touch off a wall of horses.

Carl Hewitson does not have a big stable with horses of modest ability but he turns out winner after winner. Aspoestertjie has been consistent and did not get the best of passages at her last start but she put that behind her as Serino Moodley completed a double in fine form as he got the filly home in a tight three-way finish denying Fourie another winner with Cinnamon Blush a head behind and in turn, a head ahead of Star Choice.