Wonderful (Global View) cruises in by five lengths under Craig Zackey to give the Garth Puller yard the second leg of a treble. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)
Apex Predator was widely expected to break his run of seconds in the card opener on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and although the race panned out as expected, it was not without a few anxious moments for supporters of the favourite. Pacemaker Cappellino stuck resolutely to the lead with Siphesihle Hlengwa hard at work on Garth Puller’s runner but he gradually cut the deficit to take up the lead. He was then hard-pressed to hold off the attentions of Mo King, while Bandmaster, tested over 2400m at his last outing, also put in a late charge. 50m further, Apex Predator would still be in the maidens.
The Hollywood Syndicate has in a matter of a few seasons, become one of the country’s leading owners, and they were in the winner’s box once again as Isikwishikwishi made short work of his opposition in the second. Athandiwe Mgudlwa kicked for home early on Alyson Wright’s colt and he was not for the catching. Amor Fati stayed on for a well-beaten second but favourite Sovereign Command, three wide for most of the race, folded tamely.
Sacred Lily, the six-year-old mare having her 20th start, kept running under a well-judged ride from Rachel Venniker to land the third for Lola Crawford and daughters Taryn and Hailey who run the show at Summerveld.
It was a case of two contrasting styles with Muzi Yeni going hammer and tongs on runner-up Syrian Steel in his usual frenetic style and Venniker keeping her mount balanced but shifting out under pressure. It may have been race-riding on Venniker’s part, the two horses coming together briefly, but the bumping will not have affected the result.
Doctor’s Orders recorded back-to-back victories for Mark Dixon in the fourth, English Primrose runner-up on both occasions. Dixon intimated post-race that he had still to get to the bottom of the filly and that the removal of the cornel collar, a breathing aid, had probably accounted for the filly’s recent improvement.
The field took off like all the riders were late for an appointment in the fifth and it came as no surprise to see those in the vanguard fading to nothing in the straight. Serino Moodley held his nerve, watching from behind on Ladybug. When the opposition folded he pounced on the tiring pack for Ladybug to win as she liked. This was the filly’s second win from just four starts and although she beat little of note she won well under her burden of 61kg. Sweet Julia plodded on for second with Blush Of Dawn, dangerous at one stage, staying on for third.
Yeni is on a mission. If he does not make it to the National Jockey Championship, he will certainly clock up the most number of rides as he travels the country. He has already had 211 mounts this season for 36 wins with nearest chaser Sean Veale having ridden in 154 races to date.
Yeni goes back to his days as an apprentice with Nathan Kotzen when Kotzen was assistant to Mike de Kock and they teamed up with Royal Victory to land the two biggest races on the Gauteng calendar last season. Yeni carried the same colours to victory aboard Warrior Of Royalty to win the Middle Stakes. There was a wall of horses in line approaching the final furlong but Yeni left the best for last as he burst out of the pack with Warrior Of Royalty winning rather comfortably ahead of the scrum.
Garth Puller had a fine afternoon, opening and closing the days proceedings with Hlengwa doing the honours on both occasions but it was Craig Zackey who did duty aboard Wonderful in the seventh, leading all the way and winning by the proverbial street with Safe And Sound, stable companion Peitit Verdot and favourite Miss Platina in a tight call for the minor money.
Puller, a formidable rider in his day, has been a mentor to Hlengwa and has been giving the youngster many chances of late. He did not let the side down as he rounded off the meeting on Fine Admiral who fought on gamely from his wide draw to land the last.
