Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Danon Platina colt Aristocratic came from well of the pace to win easing up in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
There was a nine race meeting on the Hollywodbets Greyville poly on Wednesday and it was mostly competitive, although there was an easy and impressive win by a first-timer in the first race and later on a consistent five-year-old won a 2000m race by 7,80 lengths off a 55 merit rating.
In the first race over 1200m first-timer Aristocratic represented the famous Dean Kannemeyer/Fieldspring Racing combination, which has twice won the Hollywoodbets Durban July, first with the great Dynasty in 2003 and then with Eyeofthetiger in 2006. The Danon Platina colt out of stakes-placed Silvano mare Simply Royal was backed in to 18/10, but looked out of his ground turning for home. However, he then got going under Craig Zackey and stormed home to overtake second favourite Holy Star and win by an easy and impressive 3,30 lenths, so this two-year-old looks a horse to follow.
In the second race over 1400m the leading freshman sire Erik The Red had his 12th winner of the season when the Wendy Whitehead-trained 7/1 shot Mrsglittersparkles opened up a lead from the off under Calvin Habib and held on by 0,40 lengths from a strong-finishing 2/1 favourite Opera Fan.
In the third over 1000m the Garth Puller-trained Axis Power had not placed in two starts at Fairview and one on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf from 1200m to 1400m, but the minimum trip was what he had been looking for at this level, because he jumped well and led from start to finish, holding on from a fast-finishing but green odds-on favourite Pinetti to win by 0,60 lengths. Axis Power is by Flower Alley out of a Silvano mare, so should stay further in time, while two-year-old Pinetti should not be long in winning over this trip.
The next race was of interest because it involved perennial bridesmaid Cherry Oh Baby, who was given a ride by Andrew Fortune last time that came under scrutiny. She started odds on again but after dropping out from a wide draw and being caught behind a crawl she could not make much impression on the Puller-trained Futura filly Sanbeenee, who got first run on her from a handy position on the rail, or Takeyourbestshot, who sat second in the running. Sanbeenee won by 1,30 lengths under Siphesihle Hlengwa from Takeyourbestshot and Cherry Oh Baby was 0,30 lengths further back in third.
In the fifth over 2000m the Alyson Wright-trained Linngari five-year-old gelding King Bavarian sat behind the leading trio under 4kg claimer Jacey Botes and on the back of a fair pace swept through to win by 7,80 lengths at odds of 4/1.
In the sixth over 1400m the Justin Snaith-trained Lancaster Bomber filly Among The Clouds travelled well throughout on the quarters of the pacemaker West Side Story and sauntered to an easy 2,10 length victory under Andrew Fortune. The breeding paddocks beckon for the Nick Jonsson-owned four-year-old filly. The favourite One Path came from well back and had some traffic problems but ran on late for second.
In the seventh over 1400m the Dennis Bosch-trained Querari filly Copacabana was dropped out from a wide draw by Serino Moodley and turned for home near last. However, the 8/1 shot then produced a strong finish on the outside to beat the favourite Miss Paget by 1,70 lengths.
In the eighth over 1000m the Paul Gadsby-trained Pomodoro filly Princess Hannah was given the ride of the day as she was dropped out to last from draw six and put on the rail by Tristan Godden. The 6/1 shot was the only female in the field and stormed through on the inside rail to catch Future Flo and win by 1,05 lengths. The 1000m specialist Donquerari was backed in from 16/1 to 4/1 favourite and ran on well to pip Future Flo for second.
The last race saw the MIchael Roberts-trained Visionaire six-year-old gelding Chara Sands, who had not made the frame for nine starts in succession, going to the front under 4kg claimer Mxolisi Mbuto and taking advantage of his 68 merit rating, down from a high of 82, and winning cosily by 1,20 lengths from the fancied Masterbling and the outsider Wings Of Josephine.
