Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith lead in Navy Strength, whom Greg owns in partnership with Nancy Hossack. Navy Strength clinched a treble for Justin Snaith (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Justin Snaith clinched the last three legs of the first Jackpot at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today (Tuesday) and goes to 47 wins for the seasons at a strike rate of 15.61%.
The three winners, Regulation (Legislate), Gimmethatpearl (Gimmethegreenlight) and Navy Strength (Dynasty) were ridden by Grant van Niekerk, Sean Veale and JP van der Merwe respectively.
Veale later clinched a double and goes to 41 wins for the season at a strike rate of 13.62%.
Navy Strength was an interesting winner as he comes from a top broodmare in Spring Lilac and is a half-brother to the like of dual Gr 1 winner Snowdance, who is the dam of Snow Pilot.
His form this season has not been bad and yet this 94-rated six-year-old went off at odds of 16/1, although he did have to carry topweight of 61,5kg.
Graham Hawkins (Gold Circle) wrote the below full report on the meeting.
Graeme Hawkins
Garrix (5/10) was, as the betting suggested, expected to win the second race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday but it was the manner of victory that stamps this 3yo Vercingetorix colt as an exciting prospect and one to follow. Trained by Piet Steyn and ridden by Richard Fourie, Garrix was a long way off the pace at the halfway stage of this Maiden 1200m, but he quickly dispelled any concerns his legion of supporters may have harboured by quickening smartly and forging clear to win in some style.
I am not one for exaggerated superlatives when assessing young unexposed horses, but I must confess to being hugely impressed by his performance at only the second time of asking and surely a bright future beckons. He was runner-up when unfancied in a strong line-up on debut and Garrix has clearly improved a great deal since that introduction in September.
Miraculous, who shortened from 2/1 to 8/10, got punters off to a flying start when taking out the first race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, with an emphatic victory over Englefield Green and Hope Chest.
Berry’s Boogie, an Australian-bred daughter of Churchill (Ire), took out the third race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, with a minimum of fuss. Always handy, Berry’s Boogie (4/1) was always travelling smoothly and had more than enough in hand to ward off the attentions of the improving Winter Gamble. The well supported Spinmyangelspin (2/1) faded out of contention approaching the final 300m, finishing unplaced seven lengths off the winner.
The fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, was interesting. Five of the twelve runners went down the inside with the balance of the field moving toward the outside rail. As it turned out, the inside group was always well clear of the outside bunch and filled the first five placings with Golden Destiny, who kept to his station from Gate 2, storming home to win unchallenged. The Dean Kannemeyer-trained 3yo son of Rafeef has always been held in high regard and he finally put his act together at the fifth attempt. His market rival, Crescent, was one of those that made a beeline for the stands side rail (from Gate 3) and he was never a factor thereafter.
The favourite Marine Merchant was a late TCO2 scratching from the fifth race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, and unfortunately for Jackpot and Pick 6 players, the substitute market leader Honor Of Kings was narrowly upstaged by his lesser fancied stable companion Regulation, a three-parts brother to July winner Belgarion. Snaith then secured a race-to-race double as Gimmethatpearl (8/1) ran on doggedly to land the sixth race, a Class 3 Handicap over 1400m, ahead of the Candice Bass-Robinson pair of Callmegetrix and Fun Zone.
The seventh race, a Cape B Stakes over 1800m, produced a thrilling finish with Navy Strength (16/1) flashing home from some way off the pace to nail King Pelles (15/10) in the final few strides. Lightning Glow stayed on well to finish a close third ahead of Marshall Field who rounded out the Quartet. Navy Strength’s fifth career success completed a perfect treble for the Snaith team.
