Andrew Harrison
Any chance of Queen Braganza lining up for the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas next month were seemingly blown out of the water as she finished down the field in the Class 4 Handicap that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.
She needed to win and win convincingly to booked her Guineas berth but she drifted alarmingly in the betting and it was not to be as she faded tamely.
After significant overnight rain the meeting was switched to the poly track but even that may no be an excuse as Spinmyangelsspin made short work of her rivals.
Former assistant to Mike de Kock, Wengi Masawi and his assistant Megan Trott, are the new names on the block assisted by Hollywood Racing who registered their 750th winner as owners.
Spinmyangelsspin arrived at Ashburton with some modest Western Cape form but has come good since the addition of blinkers to her racing equipment.
She took on a useful handicap field yesterday and won with authority.
The well fancied Poursomesugaronme came from well of the pace to snatch second ahead of Mrsglittersparkles.
Louis Goosen’s charge Blazing Fury drifted like and untethered barge in a current on debut and after showing early pace he ran out of steam, finishing a distant third. There were no mistakes yesterday as current championship log leader Craig Zackey settled his mount in off the pace set by Sun In My Pocket and Blazing Fury quickened up smartly to put the race to bed a furlong out. Place Of Practice stayed on for second ahead of favourite Eastern Highlands who was always wide but doing his best work late. Zackey was confident in his post-race interview that the son of Vercingetorix is a horse to keep an eye on.
Blue Poppy looked to be one of the better bets on a tricky card but her supporter blood pressure will have been elevated to dangerous levels as she came from near last to get up close home. She missed the break once again and Calvin Habib was forced to take his medicine and was well off the pace turning for home. However, Habib gave her a clear run at the line and Wendy Whitehead’s filly responded with a fine turn of foot to get home inside the last few jumps to deny Kali Bwana and a game Trail Runner who stayed on for third.
Favourite Councillor made the transition from the long Vaal straight on the turf to the fast Hollywoodbets Greyville poly track with its short straight to land the first leg of the Pick 6. It was not easy in spite of her light weight and good draw and replacement rider Kabelo Matsunyane hard at work a long way from home. Tee Dog tried gamely to stay in the lead but Mike and Mathew de Kock’s charge rallied gamely under Matsunyane’s urgings and she responded gamely to get up close home.
Those students of form who were sharp to the 5kg difference between fourth race favourite Mohandas and Doug Campbell’s mare Sweeter Than Honey on their last meeting should have cashed in. Up with the pace throughout, Mohandas looked to have the race at his mercy come the dash for the line but Athandiwe Mgudlwa produced his mount in a finely time ride to snaffle the favourite and give wide awake form-studiers something to crow about.
‘Absolute stampede’ is a well worn cliché but that was the case in the Class Four, fifth race in the card, as Ombudsman finally got the better of his rivals inside the last 50m. Sean Tarry does not raid KZN unless he thinks his runners can pay their way. Trail Runner found Blue Poppy a handful but did finish in the money and Ombudsman paid for his float-ride.
It was anyone’s call approaching the final 50m but Ombudsman finally got clear with Ragnar The King edging French Trip for the minor placings ahead of a bunched chasing pack.
Top weight was not enough to stop Peter Muscutt’s gelding Golden Rule who made amends for a somewhat disappointing showing when difficult to settle when favourite last time out. Up with the pace at his last two, replacement rider Tristan Godden managed to ease his mount in off the pace and produced when it mattered, streaking clear of the opposition crossing the subway to win as he liked. Amor Fati made a belated effort to close the leeway but to no avail.
Jarett Rugg was one of the characters at Flamingo Park in Kimberley before the closure of the track and before circumstances forced him into another direction. But Nicholas Patel was always a staunch supporter of his yard. Patel has found a new home with MJ Odendaal and Gareth van Zyl and is as a more than capable lightweight. Given the chance, he showed when getting Mystique Rouge home in the last for Odendaal. Always handy and kicking for home early, he made short work of the opposition, Amafort and Oh My Gucci Girl.
