GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT (GRADE 2) Handicap 1200m – R 1000 000

TENANGO

Trainer: Candice Bass-Robinson

Jockey: Andrew Fortune

BRED BY: Mr I W Longmore

OWNED: Messrs Mark Bass & I W Longmore

GOLDEN HORSE MEDALLION (GRADE 1) – R 1500 000 – 1200M

GOOD FOR YOU

Trainer: Glen Kotzen

Jockey: Chad Little

Winner: GOOD FOR YOU

BRED BY: Oldmans Stud

OWNED: Messrs Deven Govender, R P Macnab, S Poriazis, Sivan Ramsamy & S L Russo

ALLAN ROBERTSON CHAMPIONSHIP (GRADE 1) – R 1000 000 1200m

DIRECT HIT

Trainer: Alan Greeff

Jockey: Richard Fourie

Winner: DIRECT HIT

BRED BY: Ridgemont Highlands

OWNED: Ridgemont (Nom: Mr Craig Kieswetter) & Mr Devin Heffer

SA FILLIES SPRINT (GRADE 1) – R1000 000 – 1200m

MIA MOO

Trainer: Sean Tarry

 Jockey: Callan Murray

Winner: MIA MOO

BRED BY: Klawervlei Stud

OWNED: Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd & World Sports Betting (Nom: Mr W Tannous)

Fortune keeps Tenango in the hunt

Andrew Harrison

Andrew Fortune has had more ups and downs in his life than a showground rollercoaster but when it comes to talent in the saddle there are few better. Aboard Tenago, hunting his fourth win from his last five starts, the 57-year-old Fortune produced the Candice-Bass Robinson-trained gelding with a telling late effort to run out a convincing winner of the Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 31 May 2025. Showing no signs of an earlier wind operation, Tenago was chased home by O’Tenikwa and King Of The Gauls.

S’Manga Khumalo was out to take no prisoners on King Of The Gauls as he catapulted out of the gate and had a couple of lengths on his rivals a few jumps out of the barrier.

Tony Rivalland’s charge tried gamely to hang onto his lead inside the final furlong but O’Tenikwa was hot on his heels and Fortune had Tenago flying  from well off the pace. Responding to a typical  Fortune hands-and-heels ride, Tenago responded willingly to collar the leaders and win going away.

It was the second feature race winner on the day for the Ridgemont Highlands stallion Canford Cliffs.

Earlier in the day, the Alan Greeff-trained Direct Hit kept her unbeaten record with an emphatic victory in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. 

Richard Fourie always had the leaders in his sights and when asking the question, the daughter of Canford Cliffs quickened smartly to put the race to bed with the Corne Spies-trained Elegantrix game but a well beaten second.

Forty-year-old Chad Little is another rider that has had to overcome a few roadblocks in his life but has quickly made his mark back in the saddle and is well supported by Glen Kotzen.

That loyalty was repaid in spades as Little recorded the first Gr1 victory of his career in keeping Good For You going under a driving ride to narrowly hold off Charming Cheetah and Intensity in a tight finish to the Gr1 Gold Medallion with Military Command staying on for the shallow end of the purse. 

Third-placed Intensity finished with a wet sail and was a winner two jumps after the line and is one for the notebook.

Most of the drama came in the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness. With two short-heads separating the first three across the line, it was left to the judges to decide.

Sean Tarry was not to be denied on a day that he has dominated on many occasion and Mia Moo gave him the 21^stGr1 winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, a remarkable record by any standards.

But it was a close run thing as Callan Murray, fresh from a sojourn in Australia, kept his mount going just long enough to hold off the attentions of a fast-finishing Asiye Phambili with Mrs Browing staying on for third.

The much decorated Double Grand Slam was sent out favourite but as race caller Sheldon Peters commented early in the race, she was ridden for luck up the inside rail from her pole-position draw.

Well the luck was not with her as the large field shifted towards the inside rail as Fourie and Double Grand Slam were up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Arch rival Rascova found herself in a similar predicament but both will live to fight another day.