African Prince comes from the clouds to win the Winter Country Championship 1200 Final (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Justin Snaith not only won the Winter Country Championship 1500 Final, but also the 1200 Final and 1000 Final, while the 2000 Final was won by James Crawford.
African Prince was the most amazing winner of the day in the 1200 Final, which was run over 1250m at the Hollywoodbets Durbanville venue. The Klawervlei Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight gelding, owned by Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith, drifted out from 9/2 to 10/1 and would have been any price halfway down the straight because he had turned for home in last place and at the 300m mark still had eight of the ten horse field to pass. However, once he saw daylight on the outside he took off and scored by 0,30 lengths under JP van der Merwe in a thrilling finish. Commentator Brandon Bailey understandably called the wrong Bortz and Goldsmith horse home as he saw his flying finish late and must have written African Prince off earlier. It was the second career victory of African Prince, who carried 60.5kg off an 80 merit rating. It was a R200,000 race and would have helped recoup some of the R1,5 million purchase price at the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. African Prince has earned R272,412 to date.
The 1000 Final was won by the Ambiance Stud-bred One World three-year-old filly She’s My World. Muzi Yeni bounced her out from draw two and clinched the rail position in the front, before Peace Of Mind came around from a wide draw of seven and gave her a tow. Yeni remained patient until the 300m mark and thereafter just had to give her one backhander before going on to win by a cosy 0,75 lengths, converting odds of 91/100. The promising filly cost R425,000 at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and is owned by Messrs J I Bloch, R J Bloomberg, Cameron Braun, E A Braun, A C P Cotterell, Mark & Beti Jones & Dr J A Warner. This was also her second career win and she has earned R349,243 to date.
The 2000 Final was won by the James Crawford-trained Ridgemont-bred Rafeef gelding Heal And Soul. He cost R250,000 at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. Luyolo Mzothwa had him in midfield from draw six carrying 57,5kg off a 77 merit rating. He ran on resolutely in the straight to convert 10/1 odds and record a second career victory. He has only had seven starts and has earned R209,275.
