Warren Lenferna

Proud owner Francis Carruthers was on course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday to lead in both his winners. His first victory came early in the first race with Digby from the Shane Humby yard, who won well despite drifting across the track in the closing stages. Digby was excellently handled by Richard Fourie and is part-owned by Carruthers with Kim Bosman, Janet Hunter, Edward Hector and Ian Robinson. Second-placed Trailfinder can be followed with confidence, as he caught the eye when gaining momentum close to home and should not remain a maiden for much longer.

Ignite The Fire was superbly ridden by apprentice Damyan Pillay for Paddy Kruyer to win the second, the first of the two apprentice races on the card. Kruyer was complimentary of Pillay’s ride, mentioning that he has a racing brain and what appears to be a bright future.

Sommerstern, from the Woodruff yard, landed the spoils in the third. He seems decent and should go on to win more. Prairie Dawn got going when the race was over and should win next time out, which will more than likely be over even further.

It was in the sixth race where Carruthers notched up his second win of the day. This time he took the entire first cheque as the sole owner of the Pomodoro gelding Kebonalesedi, who was given an clever ride by Callan Murray. Eric Sands had Kebonalesedi spot-on in terms of fitness, and it was a ding-dong tussle to the line. Murray got his mount’s nose down at exactly the right moment.

The second and last of the apprentice races was won by Fort Red, who was comprehensively backed and nicely handled by Port Elizabeth–based rider Bavish Soodoo. Mike Stewart has his horses in a good space and, for all the tea in China, it was clear that the support for the evergreen eight-year-old was going to prove correct. The rest of the field chased, but chased in absolute vain.

Speaking of good efforts from the saddle, Grant van Niekerk got the handsome son of Master Of My Fate, Major Master, to lift and grab first prize in the forth race, a B Stakes over 1500m. Major Master was having his third run since a layoff and proved to be a on song for the race. He is trained by Candice Bass.