Jayson and Preshalin Murugasa are third from the right and second from the right respectively in this post race celebratory photograph (JC Photos)
Jayson and Preshalin Murugasa won their first ever feature race when the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Vercingetorix colt Splittheeights won the Gr 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m last month and on Saturday the same horse landed them their first Gr 2 when surging to victory in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas under Raymond Danielson.
Mike de Kock said about Jayson and Preshalin, “They have had horses for about eight to ten years and have spent a helluva lot of money in the game. But they are fantastic people and unbelievably good sports. You normally say that about the winners, but they have also lost for a long time and have taken it all on the chin. They have spent a lot at the Sales. In fact I think Brett Crawford bought this horse for them, credit to him, although I would have to confirm that. We have really enjoyed training for them. They (Jayson and Preshalin) give it a good Turffontein shout when they hit the front, don’t you worry about that!”
Jayson Murugasa was noticeably emotional in the winner’s enclosure after the big win and left most of the talking to his son Preshalin.
Preshalin thanked a number of people and spoke about the victory having been the culmination of a great team effort.
Ridgemont Stud were the breeders of Splittheeights and Preshalin revealed that it was appropriately the birthday of Craig Carey on the day of Splittheeights’ big win.
He also revealed that it was actually “Dad” who did most of the screaming in the last 200m of any race.
Raymond Danielson has become an important member of the team and is undefeated on the colt in two starts.
The biggest mystery of Danielson’s career is he has never challenged for a championship, as he certainly has the ability and has a phenomenal big race record for a jockey who is seldom close to the top of the log.
He used to be known as “super sub” and in typcial fashion his recent stint in Mauritius saw him winning prolifically and among his wins was on Good Council (Oratorio) in the island’s biggest race, the Gr 1 Maiden Cup over 2400m.
Raymond had expressed surprise on taking over the ride on Splittheeights that the Murugasas were yet to win a feature race.
Indeed it is surprising, because their colours have been prominent around the country for quite a while now.
Mathew de Kock said Raymond fitted particularly well into the Splitheeights team because he regularly plays golf with the De Kocks and the Murugasas, who have become close family friends.
Splittheeights was actually named during racing’s most popular golfing tournament, the Wild Coast Racing Masters.
The nights at that enjoyable tournament are often characterised by raucous camaraderie around the blackjack table.
On one such occasion the guy who was playing on the last box on Mike and Jayson’s table went against etiquette and split his pair of eights, which ultimately cost Mike and Jayson some big winnings.
However, it did at least lead to the naming of the horse.
Mike said, “It is a nice he has become a good horse, because often when you have those clever names the horse amounts to nothing.”
Hopefully the floodgates will now open for the Murugasas.
Their fortunes will certainly be interesting to follow, because the taste of a big win usually leads to a yearning for more such victories.
Splittheeights can claim to be the best three-year-old in the land considering Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Jan Van Goyen was beaten by Trust in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans and Splittheeights has now beaten Trust twice since then. On the other hand Trust was unlucky in Saturday’s race.
Splittheeights is yet another big race winner for the mighty sire Vercingetorix.
He is out of the Trippi mare Masschussets which makes him a half-brother to the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner William Robertson.
William Robertson has done well over a mile too and has a Gr 3 fourth place over 1800m, while Vercingetorix won Gr 1s over 2000m and 1800m, so there was no real concern over the step up in trip.
In his previous start in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m, Splitheeights had turned it on in impressive style and although receiving 2kg from Trust he had beaten him by 2,50 lengths, which put him half-a-length ahead of Trust on paper.
He had also caught the eye more than Trust had n that race.
Nevertheless, Trust had beaten the champion Jan Van Goyen over 1600m and was not only back to that trip, but he was reunited with his regular rider Serino Moodley.
So, Trust started as the 9/4 favourite, first drifting out to 5/2 before shortening late, whereas Splitheeights vied for favouritism but started at 5/2.
A good pace was set by Splittheeights’ 25/1 chance stablemate Yippee Kayay with the 33/1 shot stablemate I’m A Fireball behind him.
Trust broke well and was in joint third place, but was caught one wide without cover.
Splitheeights had the perfect position under Raymond Danielson, sitting in behind Trust.
Yippee Kayay stole a march as they turned for home and opened up a big lead.
Dingaans third-placed All Systems Go, an East Cape raider, was the first to give chase together with Radio Star on the outside.
Splitheeights switched out and swept past Radio Star with an impressive burst while still in the hands.
Trust was still biding his time in the centre.
As Moodley got to work on Trust, One Eye On Vegas switched outward under Sean Veale and took up his running, forcing Trust to be eased.
Meanwhile, the smart Grand Empire had come from backward of midfield to challenge for the lead.
One Eye On Vegas was also making big forward strides too.
However, Splittheeights was going best of all and Danielson just had to keep him straight and administer a backhand or two to get then job done winning by 0,60 lengths from Grand Empire with One Eye On Vegas 0,30 lengths further back. Trust rallied late to be beaten just 1,40 lengths into fourth with Yippee Kayay running a brave a 2,15 length fifth.
Serino Moodley objected on behalf of Trust against One Eye On Vegas and was placed third, while the latter was demoted to fourth and an inquiry has been opened into the incident.
Bred by Ridgemont, Splittheeights was an August 2yo Sale R600 000 purchase.
Splittheeights has now won three races with two places from his five starts for stakes earnings of R994 888.
