Lucky Houdalakis and S’Manga Khumalo with the spectacular East Cape Gold Cup (Pauline Herman Photography)
An inspired decision to raid the East Cape with the rangy stayer Bushveld has paid dividends for Vaal-based trainer Lucky Houdalakis.
Battleground finished a two length third in the Listed Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein Standside despite being way under sufferance.
A condition in that event was a placed horse can not be raised more than four points and Battleground was thus well treated off an 88 merit rating, which saw him only having to carry 55kg in today’s Non-Black type merit-ratings band event.
He duly started favourite at 14/10.
The East Cape Gold Cup used to be the longest race in the country but has recently been changed from 3600m down to 3200m.
S’Manga Khumalo rode a cool race, sitting in midfield in the seven horse field.
Richard Fourie on Bournemouth decided the pace was too slow halfway through the contest and went to the front.
Bournemouth led for a long way in the straight.
Khumalo, who came down the centre, bided his time knowing he had a lot of horse.
He got going at the 400m mark.
Battleground had to consistently find extra. because the six-year-old Tara Laing-trained Frankel gelding Juan Carlos, who was carrying only 52,5kg, was a persistent challenger.
However, Khumalo kept Battleground going to win by a quarter of a length.
Harold The Duke was a further 4,50 lengths back in third.
It was mission accomplished and worth the journey considering the first cheque was R109,375.
