Gem King wins a class 3 event to record his first victory since March 2023. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
Without a win for close on two years, and with very little in the way of recent form, the Piet Steyn-trained Gem King delivered a 100/1 knockout blow when he suddenly bounced back to winning ways in the eighth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, the R160 000 Klawervlei Stud Class 3 Handicap over 1200m. Ridden by Corne Orffer, Gem King joined issue with the front-running Arctic Wizard inside the final 200m and although the latter tried gamely to cling on to his advantage, Gem King found that bit extra to score by a head.
Talk To The Master had to switch at a crucial stage of the race but stayed on to finish third ahead of War Chariot and a one-paced Riverstone. Marsh Shirtliff and Bryn Ressell race both Gem King and Talk To The Master in partnership, while Marsh also bred the runner-up Arctic Wizard to complete a “personal” Trifecta which yielded a dividend of R3004-00. Gem King’s unexpected victory saw the exit of most Pick 6 tickets and the nett pool of R492 554 was largely carried over.
The Justin Snaith stable has dominated the early juvenile races in the Western Cape and the first race on Saturday, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1000m, proved no exception with Music Of The Night (28/10) under Richard Fourie drawing clear of the tote favourite Whatastar to score by more than a length. Both the winner and runner-up are sired by Drakenstein-based stalwart What A Winter.
Lucy Rocket belied odds of 66/1 to score a dominant victory in the second race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, but fortunately for Bipot punters the favourite Catch A Penny snatched the runner-up berth just ahead of Summer Snow and Flying Finley. The third race, a Cape B Stakes (F&M) over 1200m, produced a form result and a good finish between Miss World and Mai Sensation. Fourie attempted to make all the running on Miss World (9/4) but was collared late by Mai Sensation (7/2) who continued trainer Lucinda Woodruff’s rich vein of form.
Pick 6 punters began on the front foot in the opening leg, a D Stakes over 1800m, when the well-supported Summer Night City (28/10) just prevailed over My Only Weakness (4/1) by a very narrow margin in a driving finish. The improving 3yo My Only Weakness, a half-sister to Equus Champion Bless My Stars, conceded 5,5kgs to the more seasoned Summer Night City and was certainly not disgraced in defeat. Summer Night City was ridden by log-leading Craig Zackey and was the first leg of a race-to-race double for trainer Eric Sands.
The fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m, saw another stirring battle between the favourite Hoodia and the Eric Sands-trained 5yo son of Pomodoro, Kebonalesedi. The latter took up the running from pole position at a solid gallop and fought on bravely when tackled by Hoodia approaching the final 200m. Just when it seemed as if Hoodia (9/4) would gain the upper hand, Grant Van Niekerk extracted hidden reserves from Kebonalesedi (7/1) who rallied bravely to score by a head.
The first nail in the coffin for Pick 6 punters came in the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m, with recent maiden winner Tap Shoes (16/1) finishing strongly from quite far back to run down Family Power and win going away in good style. Tap Shoes, a chance ride for Ashton Arries, was having only her fourth start and the full sister to Zapatillas is clearly on the upgrade. Enchanting Choice had every chance in third spot but failed to quicken at the business end while Kamchatka disappointed badly, fading tamely over the final 200m to finish downfield.
Palace Gift was the subject of shrewd support in the seventh race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1200m, and the Shane Humby-trained 4yo son of Potala Palace scored readily by more than a length from the fast-finishing Rougarouin. Ridden by Oswald Noach, Palace Gift was in control throughout, registering his maiden victory at the tenth time of asking.
Kelp Forest has taken on a new lease of life since being equipped with blinkers and was a popular winner of the ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m. The 5yo son of Flower Alley followed up on his victory a month ago with a commanding effort, notching up the sixth win of his career for trainer Adam Marcus and giving Grant Van Niekerk a double on the day. Kelp Forest (28/10) lagged some way off the early speed, but he quickened up smartly under a confident ride and was more than a length ahead of the well-backed Sooty at the line.
