Head Honcho, backed like there were no seconds on July day last year, scraped home by the narrowest of margins, much to the relief of many a punter who had braved the early morning chill at the official gallops, where Andre Nel’s runner had put up a particularly eye-catching piece of work.
That was then, in two months’ time he could be taking his place in the Vodacom Durban July proper as he turned in a battling display yesterday to deny Pack Leader and Dark Moon Rising in The Sledgehammer (Listed) in the race moved from Scottsville to Greyville.
Head Honcho (Candiese Marnewick)
Greg Cheyne took over in the saddle from an indisposed Keagan de Melo and he rode the perfect race as he had Head Honcho handy throughout and took up the challenge at just the right time.
Pack Leader came at him hard over the final furlong but Head Honcho kept finding gamely to just hold off the Investec Derby third.
Dark Moon Rising ran on late for third while the well supported The Slade had every chance in fourth but is likely to improve, this being his first outing in three months.
Brett Crawford may not have much luck with his first foray overseas as his Sun Met winner Whisky Baron never found his feet, but Crawford’s run of form continues back home as he landed both The Scarlet Lady and Natal Carbineers Highland Night Cup.
Parabola was the subject of some inspired market support for The Scarlet Lady and it proved to be money on the button as she came home hard under Corne Orffer to edge out top weight Premier Dance who was also well supported to edge out Ngaga at the top of the boards.
Ngaga was caught three deep throughout and was never a factor in the straight.
Blinkers or not blinkers, Hero’s Quest has taken a new lease on life since arriving in KZN and made most of the running to win the shortened Natal Carbineers Highland Night Cup. Orffer rode a forward race on the gelding who kept rolling stoutly in the home straight to win rather handsomely.
Favourite Kapen Pride threatened briefly at the top of the straight but was one-pace the last furlong with a blanket covering second to sixth.
On that showing, Kapen Pride does not appear to stay further than a mile while Hero Quest, racing without his customary blinkers, underlined his chances in the big staying races due in the next three months.
Vaughan Marshal opened his winter season account in the fourth as Lord Balmoral defied top weight in a driving three-way finish to hold off Summer Sky, who came from a long way back, and Tribal Fusion who came up short the last 50m.
By Andrew Harrison
