The progressive Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Refeef filly Heliotrope made no mistake in the fifth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday, an open maiden for fillies and mares over 1800m (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
Our preview “headline” horse Heliotrope, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, was given a confident ride by Aldo Domeyer and came through well to land the odds in the fifth race on the 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday. Princess of Bayeux ensured a decent pace while Heliotrope was perfectly placed in fourth position turning for home. Princess of Bayeux soon came back to her field and Heliotrope, backed in from to 22/10 to 11/10, moved through smoothly to take command. Stable companion English Mistress and Lickety Split chased the favourite home but Heliotrope had close on a length to spare at the line.
Those brave enough to take the very restricted odds offered for Sahara Cat in the first race, a Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1000m, would have been on the edge of their seats and they probably have never-say-die Richard Fourie to thank that the daughter of One World got her nose in front on the line. Sahara Cat (4/10) was pressed all the way to the end by debutante Tanneron and it was nip and tuck over the final 200m, with Sahara Cat prevailing by a whisker.
Trainer Vaughan Marshall was back in the winner’s enclosure after Star Performer (9/10) scored a bloodless start-to-finish victory in the second race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m. Star Performer clearly relished reverting to the minimum trip and the good-looking son of What A Winter was never in defeat as he raced home by four lengths under Bernard Fayd’herbe. Star Performer has always been highly regarded and he could go back-to-back next time.
The Hollywood Syndicate notched up their 74th win of the Season, and their 522ndoverall, when Kaapse Klopse (9/4f) kept finding over the last 200m to hold out the persistent challenge of Cliff Swallow (33/1) to score a popular victory for the very successful Eric Sands / Sean Veale partnership in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Cliff Swallow was having only his second start and looks sure to go one better soon.
The inevitable upset in the Pick 6 came in the seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m. All About Ronnie (16/1) took the field along at a moderate gallop under Morne Winnaar and the son of Captain Of All, named after the late Ronnie Sheehan, kept up a resolute gallop to ward off Unicorn Alert and the favourite Allez Moris by a comfortable margin. Winnaar had twice visited the second box earlier in the day and All About Ronnie’s victory was welcome reward for the under-rated rider.
Beneath The Moon edged out Seeking Peace in a close call to the 9th race, a Class Handicap (F&M) over 1000m, but the result was reversed in the Stipes Board Room. Beneath The Moon hung out badly in the closing stages causing slight inconvenience to Seeking Peace and, given the extremely narrow margin at the line, the officials gave Seeking Peace the benefit of the doubt.
