The Greyville turf eight race meeting yesterday was kicked off by a quick double by recently crowned KZN champion trainer Dennis Drier and he later made it a treble.
Drier usurped the title from his arch rival Duncan Howells and received the trophy at a classy function put on by Gold Circle on Friday night in the Greyville Convention Centre. However, he was still disappointed with his season. He believes he will do better this season due to his promising crop of young horses.
One of the latter is the R550,000 Silvano gelding Hard Core, who is out of the Irish-bred Pivotal mare Headstrong, a nine-time winner from 1200-1450m, who won the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m and finished second in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint to the great Drier-trained Val De Ra. Hard Core ran a decent barrier trial and started 61-20 yesterday on his debut, drawn two in a 1200m maiden with 2,5kg claimer Luke Ferraris aboard. Ferraris gave him a peach of a ride, finding the box seat and in the straight he quickened well and ran all the way to the line to beat the rank outsider, the Alistair Gordon-trained Good Rhythm by two lengths. The latter is by Eightfold Path and from a good draw showed fine improvement from his barrier trial. The favourite Zigi Zagi Zugi was next best.
Camphoratus (Candiese Marnewick)
Hard Core runs in the colours of Nick Jonsson, who received the trophy for his KZN Horse Of The Year Do It Again on Friday night.
Drier and stable jockey Sean Veale then combined to win over 1400m with the Sail From Seattle gelding Driven Force, who loved the step up in trip from 1000m to 1400m and stayed on well to touch off Peacock Alley and the 8/10 favourite Canadian Bolt.
Drier’s treble came in the seventh when Veale won on Perfect Air.
The highest rated race of the day was a Pinnacle Stakes event for fillies and mares over 1600m and this was won in good style by the Robbie Hill-rained Byword filly Camphoratus.
Osprey set the pace from a wide draw and was followed by the topweight Final Judgement, while Serino Moodley bided his time at the back of the six-horse field on Camphoratus.
Osprey faded in the straight. Final Judgement battled on under the welter burden of 61kg.
However, Camphoratus swept past her to win cosily from Raes Dyna Jet, who ran on well. Final Judgement was third and was followed by the favourite Sorceress and Queen’s Plain.
In the third race over 1600m Anton Marcus had the promising Paul Lafferty-trained Noble Tune colt White Lightning more handy than in his previous two starts and it was a wise move as he took a while to get going in the straight. When he did reach top gear he pulled away to win by two lengths and he should win more races.
Gareth van Zyl and Warren Kennedy teamed up to win the fifth over 1000m with Toreador filly Kateecador, who has now win her last three starts over this trip.
After a drought of over two years, Sylvester The Cat got his first win in the care of Glen Kotzen in the sixth.
Wendy Whitehead and Jarred Samuel won the last with 10/1 chance Dom Seguidor.
By David Thiselton
