Rollo The Viking (William Longsword) was one of a number of emphatic winners from the Frank Robinson yard recently. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
They used to say about the great Herman Brown Snr that in his heyday he had a long row of “A division” horses in his yard and on raceday they would come out like “bombs”.
Frank Robinson, who learnt the ropes from the great trainer and was mentored by him for decades, looks to currently be on his way to having similar firepower in the current KZN racing climate.
Robinson’s five wins this month have come at a strike rate of 45.45% and he can look forward to some big race participation with the like of Betway Summer Cup fourth-placed Madison Valley, who will be a gelding when he begins his preparation for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Certain yards are associated with certain conformation types and Brown/Robinson horses are often long-striding, scopey types with plenty of rein.
These have mostly been the types that have been coming home like bombs for the Robinson yard lately and is definitely Madison Valley’s type.
The draw of 18 was the downfall of Madison Valley in the Betway Summer Cup, otherwise he would have gone close despite odds of 100/1. He was dropped out by Sean Veale in the 19 horse field and in the straight made up many lengths from the back with a long-striding, resolute finish to be beaten just 2,35 lengths.
Frank said, “I am going to geld him. He is a rig so has one testicle in his stomach and one out so it is quite uncomfortable for him. We will try and bring him into the July with 54kg.”
The big son of Mambo In Seattle was given a 117 merit rating for his Summer Cup run, so has a couple of points to play with as a mark of 119 would likely see an older male sneak into the handicap with the minimum weight of 54kg if the July was run tomorrow.
Races like the Cup Trial will be his build up races.
Turffontein Standside is an ideal track for Madison Valley considering his ability to build up into his long stride and coupled with his resolute finish. He was flying by the time the finish line arrived in the Summer Cup.
However, Frank pointed out, “He won the Gold Vase (3000m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville and should have won the Gold Cup, he was too far back. He doesn’t need to be too far back, he can even be in front.”
However, a good draw will be important for him in the July.
It was a mixed day for the yard on Summer Cup day.
Frank had fancied Mexican Pete to go close in a Pinnacle event but he had to be scratched due to an abscess under his chin. His target is now the Listed Christmas Stakes over 1600m at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Boxing Day meeting. He said Mexican Pete has been taking a strong hold in his races, so he had got a special bit for him to try and counteract this problem.
His Gr 2-winning speedster Cats Pajamas started third favourite for the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m, but finished last and this was due to being cut into.
Frank said, “It only required a couple of stitches, but where it hit him, on the inside, is very sensitive. They stop after that as it is like a human being kicked in the shin.”
The Rafeef gelding can bounce back in a 1000m handicap on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf on Friday night.
Frank’s five winners this month have won by an average margin of 3,34 Lengths.
The Mauritzfontein-homebred Mocha Blend (Ideal World) is still green and has been tardily away and outpaced early in both of her starts, although Sean Veale did manage to get her up into a midfield position second time out in a 1950m maiden at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. She came home like a horse with plenty of ability to win by an eyecatching 4,60 lengths.
Frank said, “Mauritzfontein are such a dream to train for. They have had champions winning all over the world, Horse Chestnuts and the like, and I win a maiden at Scottsville and Jessica phoned me all the way from America straight after the race. That is how keen they are.”
The William Longsword gelding Rollo The Viking won his 7th career start, a maiden over 1600m on the polytrack, by 3,80 lengths.
The William Longsword gelding RichardTheFearless won an 1800m maiden on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf by a cosy 1,20 lengths in his fifth career start.
The Futura gelding Star Of The Future won his fifth career start over 1400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf by 3,10 lengths.
The long time hard knocking maiden My Boy Lollipop (Soqrat) returned from a three month layoff to win a 1200m maiden by four lengths in his tenth career start.
All four of those horses are owned by Sid Moodley and they were all ridden by Veale with the exception of My Boy Lollipop, who was ridden by Gavin Lerena.
Moodley’s light blue colours with a broad black band and white hoop are currently synonymous with the Robinson yard. This partnership is flourishing and should go from strength to strength.
