Muzi Yeni gets up on Absolutely Yes, but had to survive an objection. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
Graeme Hawkins (Race Coast)
Absolutely Yes had to survive an objection lodged by Corne Orffer, the rider of runner-up Pay The Palace, before ultimately being declared the winner of the Grade 3 R500 000 Langerman over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Ridden by Muzi Yeni, Absolutely Yes, the least fancied of Justin Snaith’s four runners in the seven horse party, led from the jump with Pay The Palace (50/1) in close attendance and the pair locked horns inside the final 200m with Absolutely Yes (13/2) getting home by under half-a-length.
The head-on replay showed that there was a slight “coming-together” in the closing stages but Absolutely Yes was full value for his courageous win and the gelded son of Danon Platina has now won three races from only five starts and banked in excess of R600 000. Only time will tell whether Absolutely Yes, whose dam Maybe Yes won the KRA Fillies Guineas (Gr2), is set to follow in the footsteps of many previous high class Langerman winners, but for now owners Greg Bortz, Gina Goldsmith and Leon Ellman can celebrate having won a Feature with a very proud heritage.
Pay The Palace emerged with a great deal of credit and is clearly useful while One Stripe’s half-brother, Vapour Trail, ran above expectations to complete the Trifecta. There were disappointments aplenty but perhaps the very soft underfoot conditions did not ideally suit those who failed to fire.
The R250 000 Irridescence Stakes (Listed) for 2yo fillies over 1500m produced a thrilling finish with Ukuduma (5/1) just holding off a powerful late charge from the favourite Electromagnetism (15/10) by a rapidly diminishing short-head. Gavin Lerena wasted no time in taking the beautifully bred daughter of Vercingetorix to the head of affairs and Ukuduma showed plenty of resolve over the final 30 metres to ward off Electromagnetism with She’s My World (5/2) comfortably beaten into third spot.
Trained by Vaughan Marshall, Ukuduma is out of the Jet Master mare, Thunder Dance, herself a multiple Grade 1 winner. Ukuduma has now won twice from as many starts, and with the Black-type earned on Saturday, she has gone some way towards repaying her R2,6-million price tag at the 2024 National Yearling Sales.
Star Major (1/1) was all the rage in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m, but he kept his supporters on the edge of their seats as he only mastered the newcomer, United Front, in the final few strides to score by a neck. United Front showed little sign of being inexperienced and this was a very a smart debut by the son of One World who looks to be a winner in waiting. The pair finished comfortably clear of Gold Giboski and Diamond Days, both of which appeared to find the trip a little beyond them.
Oncidium proved friendless in the market for the second race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1400m, easing from 4/1 to 8/1, but the 2yo daughter of Danon Platina came home in the manner of an odds-on favourite. Richard Fourie went forward shortly after the start and Oncidium maintained a solid gallop all the way to the line, winning for the Justin Snaith team by more than two lengths. The time recorded was more than a second slower than the opening event, but Oncidium could do no more than win and she may have further improvement to come.
The regally bred debutante October Storm was quoted in the red for most of the week heading into race day, but eased on-course to 18/10 before the off of the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m. Ridden by Gavin Lerena for the Vaughan Marshall stable, the R2,8-million half-brother to Tempting Fate and October Morn, was always travelling well and he quickly put the race to bed when called for his effort. Another newcomer, Magical Place, filled the Exacta position with Thunder Downunder and Iko Iko making up the Quartet.
The fourth race and opening leg of the Pick 6, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1400m, was won in comprehensive fashion by the well-supported Adam Marcus-trained Meg’s Legacy (28/10). Meg’s Legacy is by the 2014 “July” winner Legislate and is a half-sister to last year’s Hollywoodbets July hero, Oriental Charm. Recent maiden winner, Ariovistus, was the subject of inspired betting support in the fifth race, a C Stakes over 1950m, and the market move proved spot on. Well handled by Richard Fourie, the Piet Botha-trained Ariovistus (33/10), quickened smartly in the stretch to beat Ahead Of The Facts (13/2) by the best part of a length, with the pace-setting Wood World staying on for third.
Leading apprentice Brevan Plaatijies has been riding up a storm of late and was seen to good advantage when piloting Kamchatka (5/1) to an easy victory for trainer Andre Nel in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m. Plaatijies was happy to allow Kamchatka to settle a few lengths off the early speed, but the 3yo daughter of Erupt quickened well over the final 300m and drew clear to beat the James Crawford stable companions Lady Look Alike and Miraculous in stylish fashion.
Maritzburg Memory (7/2) came from well off the pace to take out the ninth race and final leg of the Pick 6, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m, denying the free-running Girl Like Us (33/1) in the final few strides. Maritzburg Memory, with Sean Veale in the saddle, was a third winner on the day for the Vaughan Marshall stable. Music Of The Night (7/1) took out the tenth race over 1200m narrowly ahead of I’m The Buzz (11/2) and Dean Street (12/1) bounced back to his best form for trainer Lucinda Woodruff to beat the useful Nordic Quest in the eleventh race, a Middle Stakes over 1000m.
