Andrew Harrison

Star Major put himself firmly into the picture for the R10 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July with a smashing victory in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 run at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon.

In a carbon copy of his victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas, visiting French rider Mickaelle Michel held her nerve for her first Gr1 victory as Star Major swept past his rivals chased home by Happy Verse and favourite Note To Self with pacemaker Viva’s Liberte staying on for fourth.

Trainer James Crawford joins his father Brett in training a winner of the Daily News and he could follow in his footsteps in the July, Brett having trained Winchester Mansion to victory in 2023.

Craig Zackey set a solid early pace on Viva’s Liberte with two of the more fancied runners, Note To Self and Jan Van Goyen well back in the early exchanges.

Viva’s Liberte led into the straight chased by Chronicle King whose challenge soon petered out. Crossing the subway Happy Verse was making progress under Richard Fourie while Andrew Fortune had slipped Note To Self up the inside of the pack. All this time Star Major was making up ground quickly and swept past Happy Verse  to win going away.

Note To Self was running on but lacked the finishing speed of his two rivals while disappointment was Jan Van Goyen who was never in the race and finished in the pack. He may well be a better horse over much shorter.

 The betting for the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington 2000 suggested that it would be a doddle. It eventually turned into a dog fight as short-priced favourite Wish List scraped home ahead of the mare Minogue.

In a race run at no great pace, Muzi Yeni took the initiative and sent Candice and Tammy Dawson’s mare to the front, gradually stepping up the pace until he had built up a commanding lead turning for home.

Andrew Fortune was content to sit back in the pack but the warning signs were up early as Wish List was in behind two runners. “I was stuck behind the two Candice Bass runners, who for some reason could not go anymore. So I circled them. But by then Muzi Yeni had gotten away on Minogue.” Fortune was eventually force to switch off their heels and run wide into the straight. Wish List appeared to be slow into gear but like all champions she gradually started to unwind and make up the leeway. She again showed a tendency to shift in under pressure with Fortune reluctant to break her stride and it was head-and-head over the final 100m with Minogue refusing to give in, in spite of Yeni losing his near side rein.

Much to many punter’s relief, the victory margin was a nose with Keukenhof coming from last for the minor money. In spite of the close finish, Fortune commented, “this girl is good and for now I am in her corner for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.”

Weichong Marwing is no stranger to the winner’s circle in big races, once being the regular pilot of the mighty Horse Chestnut, and although Dance King is hardly in the same league it was a win full of merit and emotion as his son Wesley steered the 20-1 outsider to an emphatic victory in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Listed).

Out for over nine months with a knee injury, this was the younger Marwing’s first winner since returning to the saddle. From his pole position draw, Dance King had the run of the race and Marwing was able to keep close tabs on the favourite Curious Girl.

The early pace was muddling with the lead changing on a number of occasions but Curious Girl was always in the firing line and Dance King stalking her.

The first worrying signs for the favourite came as the field climbed the hill with Sean Veale beginning to niggle at Curious Girl. Given that she was under pressure that early, she did well to  stay on for third. Dance King on the other hand was full of running and went to the line with lengths to spare while Ahead Of The Facts, who was giving away lumps of weight to almost the entire field, finished off strongly from near last to take second in a run full of merit.

The filly Alboran Sea was a top class filly trained by Sean Tarry so it was no surprise that owner Rakesh Singh had to go to R1 million to secure Coast Of The Sun and first up it looks to have been money well spent.

After a gentle introduction to racing, he showed his ability with a gallant maiden win where very little went his way.

Drawn wide, Michel had difficulty tucking him in as first he was kept out wide and then tended to over race. It certainly wasn’t a smooth early passaged and Michel pulled him out early and came wide into the straight. With a few shakes of the reins and a couple of backhands, Coast Of The Sun finished strongly to win impressively.

Although this was only a maiden event, second-placed Benny And Paul will not be long in winning and Tennie Prinsloo was confident that he has a star on his hands. Given this showing the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at the end of the month is a likely target and will probably be one of the most hotly contested races of the season.