In thrilling, head-bobbing duel, Questioning beat Legal Counsel by a nostril (Picture: Race Coast)
Questioning has come a long way in his career. Always among the top echelons he earned a label of almost but not quite there. That has changed dramatically in the past four months as he has rattled off four consecutive victories, culminating in a tremendous but nail-biting finish to the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday where he showed guts and ability to get the better of Legal Counsel in a no quarters asked finish with little more than a nose separating the pair at the line.
Gladatorian produced his usual strong finish to take third ahead of The Real Prince who was also running at them late.
It was a masterful training feat by Vaughan Marshall, who is closing on the 40th Gr1 success of his career. When asked about the recent improvement in Questioning’s form, he put it down to the horse having finally matured.
Tristan Godden rode a canny race on the lowest profile runner of Justin Snaith’s trio, that also consisted of See It Again and Eight On Eighteen. From a good draw, he sent Legal Counsel to the lead tracked by two-time Challenge winner Dave The King and Tin Pan Alley.
Some would have expected the son of Legislate to quickly come under pressure in the chase for home.
However, he kept finding and Richard Fourie on Questioning was forced to show his hand a little earlier than he would have liked. Fourie sat for a long way before making his challenge but still admitted that he had gone too early. “I came into the straight and fired him up a little too soon. I know that he’s not an ideal miler and it was a great ride from Tristan who set nice, good fractions. At one stage I thought that he was going a bit fast. But he knew what he had underneath him and I drew past him at the 300 a good half a length and then it became hard work. I knew the line was coming and we both had our doubts. Tristan said did you get there or did I get there? Normally I’m good at splitting them but I just said I can’t tell you, it was that close.”
Marshall admitted post-race that he was not confident of Questioning seeing out the trip. “ I had my doubts over the 1600 I must be honest. He came so close in the King’s Plate. He confounded the critics there and he’s done it here. So yes I’m a little surprised but very, very elated.”
“He’s just matured and turned into a really good horse. He enjoys his work and just looks magnificent. He’s a pleasure to train.”
Given that Questioning takes this race well, his next mission will be the Gr1 Mercury Sprint and victory there could elevate him from ‘just a good horse’ into challenging for Equus Horse of the Year.
There were a number of Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls on display on Saturday and if anything they muddied the waters.
Best performance came from Legal Counsel and depending on which line-horse the handicappers use, he could find himself up there with See It Again on 62 kg.
See It Again ran a lacklustre race and showed little enthusiasm in the run for the line and stable companion Eight On Eighteen faded out with Justin Snaith scratching him from the July entry list on Sunday morning.
Gladatorian ran his usual game race and finished like a train for third. The Real Prince was also running on to the line and it remains to be seen whether Dean Kannemeyer and Khaya Stables and also Stuart Ferrie are tempted by the R10 million stake of the July or take the more conservative route to the Gr1 HKJC Champion Stakes WFA.
The Gr3 Cup Trial is traditionally the last chance saloon for borderline July entries and it will be back to the drawing boards for most. The grey Zeitz, not a July entry, ran on stoutly to beat July hopeful I Salute You who was giving the winner 2.5kg. Before Saturday’s race I Salute You was set to carry 53kg in the July. JP’s Palace kicked on nicely for third but was getting 7kg from I Salute You while Field Marshal may have blown his chances of a July berth.
Regulation was most disappointing although he did not get the run of the race, being caught three wide for much of the trip but lacked a finishing effort. Jockey J P v’d Merwe reported that Regulation choked up in the running. The Veterinarian was requested to examine and nothing obvious was detected
The Gr2 HKJC World Pool Stakes saw another bruising finish with favourite Quickstepgal and Mon Petit Cherie fighting out a head-and-head duel to the line. Mon Petit Cherie ran her heart out from her 13 draw and headed Quickstepgal, but Tienie Prinsloo’s filly was not to be denied and Keagan de Melo got Quickstepgal to rally and get her nose in front and also survive an objection.
Behind them was July hopeful Mocha Blend who missed the break but was running on stoutly (for a 4,55 length seventh) over a distance well short of her best in what was a smart piece of work on her July prep.
