TOTE DERBY (Grade 3) – 2400m -R 350 000 

KING PELLES          

Trainer: Gareth van Zyl

Jockey: S’Manga Khumalo     

OWNED: Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr Ravi Padayachee), Messrs D D MacLean, G J Player & N V Parmanand

 Bred: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

 TOTE OAKS (Grade 2) – 2400m -R 350 000 

SHE’S A BOMBER            

Trainers: Alyson Wright

Jockey: Athandiwe Mgudlwa        

BRED BY: Varsfontein Stud

OWNED: Messrs R M Sewgoolam & R Chung

King Pelles aiming for gold

Andrew Harrison

King Pelles flew the flag for Gareth van Zyl during his stint in the Western Cape winning three races including the Gr3 Chairmans Cup over 2500m. On Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville he came in for a ton of market support in the Gr3 Tote Derby and landed the gamble in some style, beating home Holding Thumbs and Field Marshal with the odds-on favourite Future Swing ‘blowing up’ in the home straight.

King Pelles, a son of Duke Of Marmalade and a half-brother to the smart Legend Of Arthur, obviously stays well and Van Zyl intimated post-race that the gelding is being aimed at the Gr3 Gold Cup come the end of the season.

Future Swing was always at the top of the boards and a short-priced favourite but there were early warning signs as he carted Richard Fourie to the gate. Soon after the start he was out making the pace before folding tamely when challenged.

He is currently squeaking in at 18 on the latest Hollywoodbets July log but Saturday’s performance could see him watching the race from his stable.

King Pelles is not a July entry but Holding Thumbs is and his chances of making the gate for the big race must also be in the balance as he was receiving 1kg from King Pelles and was out-run inside the last furlong.

In contrast to last season where he hardly went a single meeting without a winner, Fourie was winless in three straight meetings until yesterday’s Turffontein meeting where he broke the ‘drought’ on Sean Tarry’s colt Shadowfax . 

However, Future Swing was a let-down and the closest he got to a winner on Saturday aboard Knockout in the Gr2 Tote Oaks. Indian Ocean, sporting first time blinkers, ran out of puff a long way out as Knockout, favourite My Should Mate and She’s A Bomber shook off the pack in a three-way battle for honours. Knockout was first to weaken, as She’s A Bomber refused to go away under Athandiwe Mgudlwa and eventually held off My Soul Mate to win by a neck with Knockout still in close attendance in third.

It was a timely win for Alyson Wright as she chases the KZN Champion Trainer title, still three wins adrift of Gareth van Zyl who currently leads on 39.