Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
Sadly, One Stripe’s swansong in South Africa turned into a nightmare at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday as Gavin Lerena found his path down the inside rail blocked by The Grey King who was forced inwards by eventual winner All Out For Six (Grant Van Niekerk) at the 200m pole. Whether One Stripe was going as well as All Out For Six at that stage is open to conjecture, but Champions often find a way of snatching unlikely victories under pressure, and One Stripe, who was severely checked, was denied that opportunity.
The record books will show that All Out For Six, racing in the colours of the One World Syndicate and stable companion to the Vaughan Marshall-trained One Stripe, emerged victorious in the R5-million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap over 1400m by a comfortable margin over La Pulga who avoided the scrimmaging and ran on nicely from near the back of the field to finish a clear second. Great Plains got up to edge The Grey King out of third spot with One Stripe having to settle for sixth position. Clearly One Stripe was not beaten on merit, and we look forward to seeing him setting the record straight as he jets off to the USA to join the stable of Graham Motion and the company of fellow “locals” Isivunguvungu, Beach Bomb and Gimme A Nother.
Making a rare appearance on the racecourse these days, it was wonderful to see KZN-based Steve Sturlese and his wife, Cheryl, on hand to lead in their 2yo son of Fire Away, Military Command, following a dominant victory in the R1,5-million Cape Racing Sales Slipper over 1200m. Billed as the second race on the 10-race programme, Dreamworld was sent out the 2/1 favourite but, although far from disgraced in finishing runner-up, he was no match for Military Command who led from start to finish on a lightning-quick track to pass the post nearly two lengths ahead of the chasing pack. Bred by James Goodman, Sturlese owns Military Command in partnership with Blaine Hamilton, Gino Da Silva and Tony Zackey and the colt was ridden to victory by Craig Zackey for trainer Peter Muscutt.
The opening race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, was won in equally comfortable fashion by the striking grey North Point who was allowed to drift from 5/1 to 12/1. The 2yo son of William Longsword bounced into an immediate lead and was never headed. Ridden by JP van der Merwe and making his debut for the Brett & James Crawford stable, North Point raced away to score by three lengths with Demanding Dave (100/1) and Follow Your Heart (11/10) making up the frame.
Peace Of Mind, the Crawford/Rix team’s only runner on the card, took full advantage of the speedy conditions under Gavin Lerena to post an easy victory in the third race, a Cape C Stakes over 1000m. Palo Queen and Peace of Mind disputed the early lead but once the former fell away, Peace Of Mind (12/1) assumed control and galloped all the way to the line to score by close on two lengths in the fast time of 56,94 seconds.
Dropping to the minimum trip for the first time in her career, Mai Sensation (11/2) proved too strong for the opposition in the fourth race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1000m, skating home with more than a length to spare over Babelicious (4/1) and First Masterpiece (9/2). Mai Sensation has now won three races from only eight starts and there appears to be more to come from the 3yo daughter of Rafeef who was bred in KZN at Peter Blythe’s Clifton Stud.
The fifth race, a Cape A Stakes over 1100m, produced a thrilling finish with little more than a length covering the first six horses past the post. Andrew Fortune appeared to have timed his final effort on Tenango (14/10) to perfection but no sooner had the son of Canford Cliffs struck the front inside the last 150m when 66/1 chance Gem King came charging through under Corne Orffer to spoil the party.
Richard Fourie opened his account in the sixth race, a Cape C Stakes over 2200m, producing the fast-improving Umfula (2/1) with a sustained run up the stretch to run out a facile winner over Ahead Of The Facts (7/2). Tothemoonandback (10/1) stayed on well to fill the Trifecta position with the consistent Aladdin’s Lamp rounding out the top four.
Holding Thumbs is probably one of the most improved horses in training this season and the 4yo son of Vercingetorix ran them ragged in the seventh race, the R200 000 Monaco Sport Of Kings Kenilworth Cup (Listed) over 2400m. Oozing confidence, Sean Veale, who has struck up a great relationship with Glen Kotzen’s stayer, wasted no time in taking Holding Thumbs to the front and the resolute 17-hand gelding had the opposition floored with 400m left to race. His lesser fancied stable companion Blackberry Malt emerged from the struggling pack to chase Holding Thumbs home but the race as a contest was over a long way out.
