Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)
The most impressive winner on the day at the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf meeting today (Wednesday) was the Michael Roberts-trained Ladyofdistinction, who is a full-sister to the crack sprint-miler Gladatorian, and she took the step up to handicap company in her stride.
The conditions were never going to be in favour of any lightly raced runner with potential but the daughter of Vercingetorix handled it with aplomb as did Rachel Venniker. Scoring a double on the day, she had her mount wide almost all the way around the track before pressing hard for home. The veteran mare Radu tried gamely to make a race of it and at one stage looked to have the edge, but Venniker never went for the stick, knowing that she had plenty to come from her mount and Ladyofdistinction looks to have a bright future.
The card headliner, a MR 90 Handicap over 1000m, at a wet Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday saw the field cut down to five runners with the Glen Kotzen-trained favourite Connery hunting his fifth win in succession since his gelding.
With the starting gates moved to the outside of the track, the runners stayed off the cut-up going on the inside rail with young Jacey Botes leading a bunched five-horse field.
However, in the straight the 4kg claim came into play with Jet Legacy not able to get to terms with the favourite and going down just under a length.
It was a big jump from Kimberley and Flamingo Park for Nicholas Patel who was a right hand man to Jarred Rugg in the far reaches of the country before the track was abandoned.
Rugg’s move to KZN did not last long as a dearth of support was never going to make his yard viable and he moved on into the hospitality business.
However, as a jockey Patel was left in no-man’s land with little option in what is his home province but has found support from MJ Odendaal. Patel may not always ride the stable elect but he does get the odd bone and ‘MJ’ kept him aboard Grand Appeal in the card opener and he made the most of it.
The son of Gold Standard made short work of the favourite One Armed Bandit, the two coming away from their rivals over the subway, with Grand Appeal proving to be far the stronger.
The stable looked all set for a double in the second as Who Blinked was backed into the red, but as is often the case in racing, the best laid plans can go awry. Marco van Rensburg gave the favourite the perfect ride but debutante Slytherin gave all a surprise, including Alyson Wright. A late starter, according to Wright, Slytherin had shown little at work and was pegged as a 1800m plus contender. But he could well prove to be a hidden talent. It was not the strongest of maidens but good stayers can sprint so Slytherin could be chasing the ‘Golden Snitch’.
A torrential downpour and lightning delayed the start to the third, a maiden sprint, and Venniker rode the prefect race on Roberts-trained favourite Amafort, sitting midfield and then picking her way through the traffic. Sonata Samaritan and Jeanne Darc put in determined challenges but the shortest way home proved to be the right way home.
It was a double for Alyson Wright as Serino Moodley took no prisoners in the fourth. Taking advantage of the starting gates being position wide off the rail. He took Rhythm to the front and was not for the catching.
It may not all have gone according to plan for the Odendaal stable with Who Blinked getting rolled but they did manage a double on the day as Johnny The Thief went back-to-back in the seventh. Marco van Rensburg always looked to be travelling well as Woodland Glade made the running and although the pair drifted onto the inside rail under pressure, ‘Johnny’ always had the measure of his rival.
Paul Lafferty’s charge Mr Fixit made short work of the opposition in the last as he cruised home under Calvin Habib.
