The Duncan Howells-trained Australian-bred Henrythenavigator three-year-old colt Ten Gun Salute opened up several opportunities for his connections when storming to victory in yesterday’s Listed Michael Roberts Handicap over 1800m at Greyville under Muzi Yeni, who had recovered quickly from a nasty fall at the Vaal last week and notched up a treble.
Ten Gun Salute cut down the brave Gavin Van Zyl-trained warrior Silver Spring to record his third win in succession.
Howells had bad luck raiding Johannesburg with the top class filly Same Jurisdiction last season, although she still earned some good stakes money, but Ten Gun Salute could make up for it as he looks ready made for a race like the lucrative Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein. Otherwise the Gr 2 KRA Guineas and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 beckon. Howells’ recommendation of patience with this ever developing horse has paid dividends.
Earlier, the brilliant miler Ice Machine trained by Charles Laird denied the Dennis Drier-trained sprinter Barbosa a five-timer when winning the Non-Black Type Marula Sprint over 1200m under Anton Marcus, having skipped the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate due to too wide a draw.
There was also a good victory for the classy Paul Gadsby-trained Miss Varlicious in a MR handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m as she produced a late charge under 4kg claimer Calvin Ngcobo.
The Doug Campbell-trained Lala and the Paul Lafferty-trained Ole Gunnar stamped themselves as possible three-year-old feature candidates when winning the Graduation Plate races on the card in eyecatching style under Ian Sturgeon and Keagan de Melo respectively.
– David Thiselton
– Picture: Micheal Roberts congratulates Muzi Yeni after the win on Ten Gun Salute (Nkosi Hlophe)