Cafe Culture Holds On In the Gr3 Champagne Stakes under Callan Murray (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Lucinda Woodruff-trained six-year-old Var gelding Café Culture landed the second Graded win of his career when winning the the R250 000 Gr3 Champagne Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the Freedom Day public holiday on Monday.
Mike Fullard and James and Lee-Ann Drew are closing in on 500 career wins and Cafe Culture has carried their familiar white, gold diagonal stripes, blue sleeves and cap colours with pride, winnning eight times for earnings of R1 329 360.
That is a fine return on a A R50 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, although that was a steal considering he is out of a five-times winning mare (Put The Kettle On).
It was his first victory since storming to a career peak success in the Gr2 Post Merchants on Hollywoodbets Durban July day 21 months ago!
Looking hemmed in at around the 400m, after She’s My World had led the charge, the gaps opened and SplashOut-sponsored Callan Murray guided Café Culture (10-1) to a well-deserved victory in a race where no time was taken.
The supremely consistent US Of A (6-1) looked dangerous and seemed to catch a second breath late and he chipped away, getting to within 0,30 lengths of the winner.
The grey Dumbledore (25-1) finished well for third, a further 1,75 lengths back, with King Regent (20-1) capping the quartet in fourth.
South Africa’s most experienced Assistant Trainer, Lucinda’s Dad Geoff Woodruff was doing duty and gave the kudos to his daughter, who enjoyed a smart winner in the KZN Capital City on Sunday, and is up on the East Coast for the SA Champions Season.
Geoff Woodruff saddled the penultimate winner of the day when the progressive Give It Laldy stayed on under Richard Fourie to win well for Hollywood Racing. He looks a fair 3yo, and could be an exciting sort in the Cape summer.
