Frank Robinson had earmarked the Gauteng Guineas and Fillies Guineas as a likely target for Roy Had Enough and Roy’s Riviera but he may have ‘clocked’ a gallop or two at Summerveld and decided against the trip north as Monks Hood simply destroyed the Guineas field at Turffontein on Saturday.
Roy Had Enough (Candiese Marnewick)
All will be left wondering if Roy Had Enough would have made Monks Hood work any harder but he was hard-pressed to get the better of smart older horse Celtic Captain in a Pinnacle Stakes at Greyville yesterday who did not make things any easier by forcing his younger rival across the course.
All did not go according to plan for the winner, instructions from Robinson were to find cover, but in a small field it proved difficult for apprentice Lyle Hewitson who was left with daylight a lot earlier than was planned.
However, there is no substitute for class and Hewitson and Roy Had Enough fought through all their tribulations to win comfortably in the end but it was obvious that a mile is at the bottom end of ‘Roys’ optimum range.
Monks Hood is an unlikely runner in the Gr1 SA Classic but the Turffontein 1800m looks the ideal trip for Roy Had Enough.
This was Hewiston’s 284th winner as an apprentice but there is some confusion as to whether this win equalled or bettered the record for the most winners by an apprentice in South Africa.
Lyle Hewitson
Stats are difficult to verify due to dodgy record-keeping but it should all come out in the wash in the next day or two.
Hewitson had extensive work riders experience and was crowned champion before being accepted at the SA Jockey Academy after matriculating at Kearsney College and his apprenticeship was cut to three years.
He had his first ride as a fully-fledged apprentice at Scottsville on March 6, 2016 and trainers were quick to capitalise on his experience and 4kg claim. In a little over three months 60 winners were in the bag and he was in with the big boys without his apprentice claim.
This proved to be a cavaletti rather than a hurdle and Hewitson’s services remained, and still remain, in high demand.
Whether he equalled or broke the record yesterday is really immaterial because with nine months of his apprenticeship still to run, his total of winners will be out of reach of most mortals.
By Andrew Harrison
