Isivivane is driven home by Sean Veale in Saturday’s Gr 3 WSB 1900 (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
The traditional Hollywoodbets Durban July pointer, the Gr 3 WSB 1900, was the highlight of the Champions Season meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday and saw the Peter Muscutt-trained Hollywood Racing-owned Isivivane bursting into the July picture under a faultless ride by Sean Veale, while an earlier Conditions Plate saw the Justin Snaith-trained Okavango beating home his stalwart stablemates Eight On Eighteen and the exciting three-year-old Note To Self.
There was no early pace in the WSB 1900 and Trust was able to get over from the widest draw to lead the ten horse field and he kept the pace sedate.
However, he picked up the pace at the 800m mark, meaning he would have been used to some extent coming up the hill towards the straight, an underestimated energy sapper.
Trust stayed on gallantly in the straight under vigorous urgings from Serino Moodley, but Isivivane, who had sat it the box seat slowly wore him down to get up late.
Regulation ran on strongly from midfield and was unlucky as he was caught wide throughout. He looks underrated at 105 and is deserving of a place in the July field, but might now have to rely on the Gr 3 Cup Trial.
Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, Isivivane is a son of Erupt (Dubawi), who won at Gr1 level over 2400m.
The winner’s dam is the three-time winning Casey Tibbs mare Rodeo Sioux, who herself won up to 2600m.
A win in the 1900 usually earns a place in the July final field, but competition will be stiff for a final feld berth this year and Isivivane’s relatively lowly merit rating might work against him as things stand, although the handicapper has a few options.
The July distance should be no problem for Isivivane, who will carry a low weight if he gets in, with the prediction being that in the worst case scenario for his Hollywood Racing owners he will carry 52,5kg as thing stand, although carrying bottom weight of 52kg is more likely.
Isivivane had a nett merit rating one point lower than both the second and third placed horses, Regulation and Trust, and carried the same weight as them under the merit rated band conditions and he beat them by 0,60 and 0,65 lengths respectively, so if either of them is used as the line horse he won’t go up by more than two points from his current 104 rating.
If The Ultimate King is used as a line horse Isivivane could get three points. The former was half-a-kg better off than Isivivane and was beaten 0,85 lengths.
Imelenziyokudusduma faced Isivivane on level terms and was beaten 1,95 lengths, so him as the line horse would mean 4 points for Isivivane and could mean one point for both Regulation and Trust.
Native Ruler was a tie 1,95 lengths fifth but was 1,5kg better off with Isivivane so him as the line horse could mean seven points for Isivivane as well as four points for both Regulation and Trust.
Native Ruler finished fifth in the WSB Met having finished sixth in last year’s July, so might be a suitable line horse.
On the other hand it was a comeback run, so he might have needed it, and The Ultimate King might in that case be a more appropriate line horse as he was fit from a 0,80 length third place finish in the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m having finished a 10,30 length six in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge.
If Isivivane gets seven points he will go up to 111, which will be interesting because last year’s WSB 1900 winner Selukwe ran in the July off a 111 and finished third. Furthermore, Selukwe was 2kg under sufferance carrying 54kg, whereas, as things stand, Isivivane will be in the handicap carrying 52,5kg off a 111.
Isivivane took his stakes earnings to R986 800 on Saturday, with his fifth victory (and five places) from his fifteen starts.
In the conditions plate over 1600m on the day involving a number of July horses Eight On Eighteen was the surprise early leader as Okavango was held up.
Okavango then moved around horses to take the lead while Note To Self was content to sit in fourth place in the six horse field, while Betway Summer Cup winner Mocha Blend was last.
In the straight Okavango continued to lead while Eight On Eighteen was waited with.
Note To Self was not asked any serious questions until the 200m mark by which time the bird had flown.
Mocha Blend moved up from last and let down well when asked at the 200m mark, a fine run having not been seen since her Summer Cup win more than five months ago.
Eight On Eighteen put in a bold bid after moving up well, but Okavango fought back to win by 0,30 lengths, with Note To Self beaten 0,90 lengths in third.
Mocha Blend was beaten two lengths in fourth and 102 rated Ascolon Dancer and 95 rated Down By The River were beaten 2.05 and 4,35 lengths respectively.
Andrew Fortune was questioned about his ride on Note To Self.
The stipendiary steward report stated:
Jockey A Fortune appeared before the Board and was questioned regarding his ride in this race. He explained that in this race with no early pace, he had elected to maintain a mid-field position around the turn. In addition, he explained that this gelding felt lethargic in its action and took a considerable time to begin to improve. When questioned regarding being more vigorous earlier, he explained that he had allowed NOTE TO SELF to use his extended slow action and move up in his hands, and that in his opinion he could possibly have finished slightly closer but would not have improved his placing. The Board has adjourned to review his ride and consider his explanation.
It seems unlikely the handicapper will touch any of the merit ratings in this race although Note To Self, rated 118, did run above his merit rating compared to Eight On Eighteen (129) as he would have received 8kg from him in a handicap and only received 6kg.
Isivivane was the biggest mover in the betting over the weekend, shortening from 50/1 to 25/1.
