Uzwano is Kannemeyer Racing’s third win of the season and they are going at a strike rate of 23.08%. It was Champion Owners Hollywood Racing’s 16th win of the season and they are going at a strike rate of 19.05% (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)
It was five wins from eight starts for Uzwano and Gavin Lerena as Dean Kannemeyer’s charge put his best foot forward in the Middle Stakes over 1600m that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
He was helped in his cause as Capsaicin, who races in the same Hollywood silks as Uzwano, set solid fractions up front with Uzwano well off the pace in a strung out field.
Capsaicin tried gamely to hold his advantage in the straight but his early exertions took their toll as Uzwano ran on doggedly for the win with Down By The River running on late for second under replacement rider Callan Murray.
Visitors got the ball rolling in the first two with Sean Tarry’s filly Ashvendra getting the better of the luckless Barry’s Boy with AMC Roy On Fire flying up late in a tight finish to the first. Fillies taking on males is always at the back of punter’s minds when putting their money down but Champion Jockey Craig Zackey always had his mount well placed and although it came to a close finish, Ashvendra always had the measure of Barry’s Boy.
Alec Laird was next up as Sistership shrugged off a lengthy break to break her maiden. A filly with plenty of substance, that may have accounted for her late start to her career, made short work of the opposition in the second. It was all to play for at the 300m mark but once Calvin Habib put his foot down, Sistership quickened away to win comfortably with Tarry’s second debutante on the day flashing up late to snatch second ahead of Sweet Faye and is definitely one for the notebook.
Murray rode a confident race on favourite Periwinkle for Tienie Prinsloo to win the opening leg of the Pick 6.
Out in a flash, the daughter off under rated stallion Skitt Skizzle, was not for the catching finishing with over two lengths to spare over Spot Me In The Sky.
Celtic Moon enjoyed the step up in trip to shed her maiden in fine fashion, giving Habib his second winner of the afternoon. Always comfortable on the rail and just off the pace, the daughter of Erik The Red quickened up smartly when asked, winning comfortably from Predator’s Crown and Peach Melba and gave the impression that a step up in trip is on the cards.
Cowboy Country landed the coup last time put, but this time the money went astray in the Middle Stakes. From an opening call of 5-2 into the red he was beaten a long way out. Soho Star had solid Gr1 form to back his claims and talented apprentice Dezahn Louw, who surprisingly has taken some time to shed his 2.5kg claim, rode a confident race on Yogas Govender’s charge. Sitting just off a searching early pace set by Master Josh, Soho Star quickened well in spite of hanging in under pressure, and won comfortably. Cowboy Country folded when asked for an effort, finishing a modest fourth with Licence To Thrill and Master Josh ahead of him.
Louw will have to wait another day before he loses his 2.5kg claim. Confident that it would come in the next aboard Fire Chief for Gareth van Zyl, he was a winner all the way before Serino Moodley pressed for home on Eric’s Legacy. The two had the finish to themselves but Andre Nel’s runner was always going the better. Ante-post favourite Scots Wae Hae blew the start and was never in the hunt from that point on. Recently gelded, Eric’s legacy has always given the impression that he was a little better than his form would suggest and we could see a lot more from him as he steps up in trip.
For those following the money in the last, they were on the money as Mister Nibbles was given a confident ride by Mauritian apprentice Anaas Mosaheb who had his first winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Lerena was in no hurry on Place Of Practice with Mister Nibbles sat in behind. With the benefit of the 4kg allowance off his back, Mister Nibbles kept rolling as Place Of Practice declared enough and Paul Lafferty’s gelding got to the line ahead of another money horse, Master Bomber with rank outsider Pressure Point rattling home up the outsid
