Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month Of July, Win Hotel Stay

Lerena had the tricky draw of one in the six horse field as low draws are known to be disadvantageous down the Turfontein Standside straight. However, he relaxed his mount from the off until he was at the back and then sat behind the inside line of horses as they crammed on to the outside fence. Lerena was still sitting still approaching the 300m mark despite the horse now becoming a bit detached. However, as he passed the 300m mark he got to work and, despite what the horse’s supporters must have been thinking, had not left it too late at all. Chyavana began running on and Lerena slipped through a gap late on to get up just in time to win by half-a-length. He had positioned his horse well first of all and then timed his run to perfection.

This filly is not an easy ride and Godden had to negotiate a tricky draw of six out of nine. However, he knew she had a good turn of foot so was content to relax her from the off and allowed her to be shuffled to the back. He then latched on to the speedy Little Ballerina who gave him a nice tow into the straight. He chose to switch Just Reckless inward knowing how she had lugged out before. He guided her until the 200m mark and then made a deft change of whip hand. He then gave her some reminders with his right hand. She accelerated an easily fetched the hot favourite Rodeo Drive to win by 1,90 lengths.

Khumalo had brought this star filly from off the pace in both of her previous two starts to win the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m and the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m. She now had a wide draw and fans expected Khumalo to drop her out again. However, she had lost a shoe on the way to the start and had to run unshod in front. There was also the promising Lock And Key in the field and she is a handy sort. So Khumalo trusted in the filly’s class and took her right up to the vanguard. She was initially one wide but she then got a tow from a horse who came around her. Khumalo’s judgement proved correct because she relaxed well and found enough in the straight to beat the Golden Slipper runner up Fatal Flaw by 1,40 lengths with the rest of the field a further 2,90 lengths back.

Orffer secured the rail ahead of the inside drawn horses from draw three and despite being handy as they approached the first turn he had the five-year-old gelding beautifully relaxed on a long rein. He then simply played the waiting game, sitting on his mount throughout at a relaxed tempo. He was third in line on the rail in the main pack and showed no sign of panic as a string of three horses opened up a lead on this pack. The pack closed in on the front three approaching home but Orffer kept his mount relaxed on a long rein until the entrance to the straight and he then began driving. Master Redoute crept up and Orffer drew the stick just before the 200m mark. He negotaiated a gap which became tight and he had proved to have reserved just enough petrol for the horse to forge through and win by a neck. A fine ride of a race that is not easy to ride.

Fourie did not go as fast as expected in the early stages from draw eight out of nine and this did the outside drawn second favourite See It Again no favours as he battled to find cover. That was the first battle won. Fourie knew Dave The King had a very long run in and is difficult to catch if hitting the front with extra still in the tank because he has a gigantic stride. His original plan was to send him for home at the 800m mark but as the horse had begun fighting for his head he let him go at the 1000m mark. The big horse relished that decision and was in his element as he stretched out at his own relaxed momentum. Fourie did not break this monentum with the whip. Instead he just crouched low in the saddle as they reached the 400m mark and the big horse responded by puuting his head down and finding a bit extra. Fourie did not draw the stick once. He just allowed the big horse to keep his rhythm and that gigantic stride did the rest.