Hawwaam gelding Diogenes fittingly wins the Listed WSB Hawwaam Stakes cosily (JC Photos)
The SA Derby Trial, known these days as the Listed WSB Hawwaam Stakes, saw an admirable win for the Weichong Marwing-trained Diogenes over 2000m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
Diogenese, who is ironically by Hawwaam, went into the race merit rated only 80 and under the merit rated band conditions he was officially 5kg under sufferance with the 102-rated Copper Eagle, who carried joint top weight.
Muzi Yeni must be one of the best at overcoming a wide draw in the country and he was at his best on Diogenes.
The Riethuiskraal Stud-bred gelding was having his third start for Weichong Marwing, having arrived from Cape Town as the winner of one race over 1600m in five starts and that was in an open maiden in which he carried only 56kg.
He is out of the Captain Al mare Captainofmysoul, who was a five-time winning sprinter.
However, Hawwaam stayed well and with three of his five Gr 1 wins being over 2000m.
Furthermore, Weichong Marwing was once stable jockey to the maestro Ormond Ferraris, while his brother Weiho also learnt from Ferraris and is thus known as a master of staying races.
Yeni took Diogenes up handy and was caught wide initially, but he saw a split second opportunity to slot in behind the pacemaker Texas Missile and took it superbly without causing any interference.
Texas Missile, who was the 4/1 favourite in an open looking contest, relaxed well in front and set no more than a steady pace.
He stayed on well in the straight and and was only headed by Diogenes at the 100m mark.
Diogenese was receiving 3kg from Texas Missile and beat him by 1,50 lengths with Master Spy, Councillor and Copper Eagle next best.
Diogenes started at odds of 8/1.
His running style suggests he will enjoy the step up to the 2450m of the Gr 1 SA Derby, but he will face a much tougher task there.
Diogenes is owned by Mr M Havenga.
He was initially purchased by Jonathan Snaith for R300,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale, but he was sold out of the Snaith yard to Weichong Marwing for R281,000 on the BSA December Online Auction.
