Marco van Rensburg celebrates victory on outsider Winchester Mansion (JC Photos).
The Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile was full of drama on Saturday at Turffontein Standside and was won by 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner and 2024 Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge runner up Winchester Mansion, but not after a drama-packed race.
The Brett Crawford-trained Drakenstein Stud-homebred Trippi gelding had finished 12th in this year’s July, beaten 6,15 lengths, and was last of 12 horses home in his previous start in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m on October 12, beaten 19 lengths.
Many bellieved his best days to be behind him and he was duly ignored in the betting, starting at 40/1.
The Tote favourite and bookmakers favourite was the Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King.
The first drama was when Muzi Yeni fell off the fancied 5/1 shot Back In Business, who had been in devastating form and was attempting to remain unbeaten for the season.
A complex chain of events caused the incident and one or two jockeys might well be in hot water after the inquiry process is completed.
Yeni went out the side door after Back In Buisness had clipped heels and after hitting the ground went under the hooves of both Zinovi and Gimmeanotherchance, who were both forced outward by the incident.
Yeni was leter diagnosed to have a fractured clavicle and was reported in pain but in good spirits in hospital.
It was the combined outward movement of Silver Sanctuary (Raymond Danielson) from off the rail and the inward movement of Hotarubi (Calvin Habib) which forced Meridius (Rachel Venniker) to take evasive action and this horse’s sudden outward movement caused Back In Business, who had come in from an outside draw, to clip heels. However, Silver Sanctuary’s initial inward movement was caused by Winchester Mansion (Marco van Rensburg) cutting in front of him and Silver Sanctuary’s subsequent outward movement was caused by him relieving pressure on Frances Ethel (Kabelo Matsunyane), whom he had cramped on the rail by moving inward. Hotarubi’s inward movement was caused partly by pressure from Barbaresco (Gavin Lerena) going inward. Winchester Mansion’s inward movement was caused by him overracing and had he gone straight he would have crashed into Dave The King (Richard Fourie), who was coming from an outside draw and he was forced to maintain that movement because Celtic Rumours (Philasande Mxoli) on his outside was going in the same direction.
There had been an earlier incident too just after the start.
The stipendiary steward report on both incidents stated:
a) Shortly after the start, SAFE PASSAGE (M K Katjedi) was squeezed out when awkwardly placed between MERIDIUS (R A Venniker) and WINCHESTER MANSION (M van Rensburg), which jumped inwards leaving the stalls.
b) Approaching the 1400m, FRANCES ETHEL (K Matsunyane), which was ridden forward, was tightened for galloping room on the heels of SILVER SANCTUARY (R Danielson), which shifted in slightly when in restricted galloping room on the inside of WINCHESTER MANSION (M van Rensburg), which commenced to over-race and shifted in. Consequently, SHOEMAKER (D De Gouveia) was steadied when tightened for galloping room. Immediately thereafter, SILVER SANCTUARY (R Danielson) was directed outwards to relieve the pressure on FRANCES ETHEL (K Matsunyane) and this led to MERIDIUS (R A Venniker) being severely tightened for galloping room between SILVER SANCTUARY (R Danielson) and HOTARUBI (C Habib) which itself received pressure from BARBARESCO (G Lerena), which shifted in marginally. As a result, MERIDIUS (R A Venniker) had to steady and subsequently, its heels were clipped by BACK IN BUSINESS (M Yeni), which stumbled and led to Jockey M Yeni being dislodged. GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (C Zackey) and ZINOVI (S Moodley) were forced to take evasive action and consequently clipped the stricken Jockey (M Yeni). Jockey M Yeni (BACK IN BUSINESS) was attended to by the course paramedics and escorted to the medical centre for further assessment.
Jockey R A Venniker (MERIDIUS) and Jockey C Habib (HOTARUBI) were interviewed and after they gave their interpretation of what had transpired, the Board has adjourned to consider the evidence.
Winchester Mansion got the rail in fifth placed after the melee and then traveled within himself.
He produced a resolute finish and finished 0,75 lengths clear of the Stuart Ferrie-trained KZN raider Gladatorian, who flew from last position in a strung out field so must have made up at least 15 lengths in the straight.
Barbaresco stayed on for a 2,25 length third and Silver Sanctuary and Hotarubi ran on well to be beaten 3,25 lengths and four lengths respectively.
Dave The King was having his first run of the season and after opening up a lead on Turffontein Standside’s notoriously tough hill leading into the straight it was not surprising he could not maintain his gallop. However, he did fade alarmingly and was beaten 19 lengths.
Five-year-old Gladatorian was the one to take out of the race and he looks to have a bright future ahead of him considering he was largely kept to sprints in his first three seasons, but is proving himself over further, which also alines with his pedigree.
