Dave The King stretches clear of The Shepherd in Sunday’s Pinnacle Stakes event over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Dave The King sauntered to an impressive three length victory at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1500m in a Pinnacle Stakes event on Sunday under Craig Zackey.
The Mike de Kock-trained Global View gelding wouldn’t have run to his 126 merit rating, considering the 125-rated Royal Victory was likely using this as a comeback run.
Nevertheless, he was commanding in victory.
Dave The King was known as an entire to take a strong hold in the running.
He has settled somewhat as a gelding.
However, Zackey wisely decided to relinquish a brief covered up position down the back straight, because a slowed up pace in front was threatening to cause horses to gallop into each other in behind.
Dave The King then pulled himself up to the leader Itsraingwilliam’s quarters under a strong hold.
His big stride took him into the lead in the straight on tihe outside.
He is a giant of a horse and the others resembled greyhounds in behind him as he sauntered to victory with just three backhanders required.
This was a good preparation for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge where he will be out to prove he is a genuine 126 merit rating.
He did perform well over 2000m and 1800m in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup respectively last season, so if he has settled significantly since, then the 2200m trip of the Hollywoodbets Durban July is a possibility.
However, he did still take quite a strong hold on Sunday, so him getting the July trip remains debatable.
Royal Victory put in a most encouraging Hollywoodbets Durban July preparation.
He was settled by Deryl Daniels well off the pace and was doing his best work late to be beaten 3,50 lengths by Dave The King at level weights.
They both carried a welter 62kg.
The three length runner up was The Shepherd, who carried 51kg plus the 1kg overweight of Serino Moodley.
Itsrainingwilliam finished fourth, beaten 4,70 lengths carrying 57,5kg, so is one to side with in a handicap next time, considering he is rated 108 and would have carried 4,5kg less weight compared to the winner in a handicap.
The July entry Shoemaker ran on well for fifth and also ran a good race at the weights.
