Skukuza wins cosily at Headquarters today (Racing TV)
Gaynor Rupert’s UK-based stud operation Cayton Park Stud won a one mile handicap with the 85-rated homebred Skukuza on the Newmarket Rowley Mile today (Friday) and later former Summerveld trainer Dylan Cunha sent out the hardknocking Mart to win a six furlong handicap.
Skukuza is a three-year-old by Blue Point out of Trippi mare Shingwedzi, who was out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, and this colt is trained by Ed Dunlop.
Shingwedzi won three races from 1600m to 1800m in SA, including the Oaks Plate on the Fairview poly, and she did well in stakes races inluding three Gr 2 thirds, a Gr 3 third and fourth, and two Listed runner up finishes.
Shingwedzi was effective from a mile up to 3200m.
Skukuza was ridden by Callum Shepherd.
He was held up in last before being shaken up and making headway from three furlongs out. He was a bit short of room and switched left under two furlongs out. He was then ridden and kept on well to lead inside the final furlong and won going away by a comfortable 1,25 lengths, converting 5/2 odds.
Later, the Dark Angel grey gelding Mart led from a long way out to win by a length off a 71 rating, converting odds of 6/1 under Rhys Clutterbuck.
Cunha received Mart into his yard as a maiden in October last year and in eleven starts has now got four wins out of him as well as four seconds and a third.
Earlier in the day T’Challa, a William Haggas-trained Kingman colt out of the great SA-bred Jet Master mare Ebony Flyer, made a bold bid from the front in a Novice Stakes race over a mile and was only overtaken late before weakening intgo 7th place. He is owned by Barry Irwin’s Team Valor and was bred in partnership by Gaynor Rupert’s Caton Park Stud and Team Valor and also Cad Racing.
