She’s A Bomber ran on resolutely to win the Gr 3 Tote Oaks at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The Gareth van Zyl-trained Gr 3 Tote Derby winner King Pelles and the Alyson Wright-trained Tote Oaks winner She’s A Bomber might meet in the Gold Cup at the end of the season and might also meet in the Gr 3 Splashout 2200 on Hollywoodbets Durban July day bofore that.
King Pelles spoilt the party for the two horses Future Swing and Holding Thumbs, who were attempting to qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, in the Tote Derby at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
Future Swing carried topweight but was beaten over eight lengths into fifth in the 2400m contest, so looks unlikely to hold on to his July log position of 18th unless there are scratchings.
Holding Thumbs finished a gallant 1,20 length second, but was receiving 1kg from the 105-rated winner King Pelles, so that might not be a good enough finish to advance him significantly from his outside the top 20 looking in position on the July log. although the spread out nature of the finish on Saturday points to it being a good performance.
King Pelles lobbed along in fourth position on the rail after jumping from draw three under S’Manga Khumalo.
In the straight he chased Holding Thumbs, who had stolen a march along the outside rail as the pacemaker Future Swing faded away.
King Pelles’ resolute finish wore Holding Thumbs down and he beat him by 1,20 lengths, while Field Marshall was beaten 3,60 lengths into third, Cape Eagle was 7,10 lengths back in fourth and Future Swing was beaten 8,40 lengths into fifth.
GARETH VAN ZYL said in the winner’s enclosure: “He’s a horse that I have a feel for … he’s one of my last standing soldiers from Cape Town. He did well for me there and I got to know him well with the small string I had there. Coming back, I mapped out a plan for him. It’s so rewarding when it comes together. Coming from last in the 1500m race behind Dave The King and closing the way he did, I thought it was a phenomenal effort for a stayer. He came out of his 2 prep runs so well and hope he will do again, so he can go forward to the last 2 races of the season we have planned for him. It was very special to have received this horse from my Dad. I inherited this horse from him … he picked him at the sale … he loved him … Ravi loved him … Ravi was very kind in that he wanted everyone involved. It’s so pleasurable to win this for them. We love racing with them. They deserve this. It’s a privilege to train for all of them”.RAVI PADAYACHEE said in the winner’s enclosure: “All credit to the van Zyl’s. Gareth gave me and the team confidence. He did mention that his 2 runs weren’t his ideal trip and had him prepped for today. It doesn’t always work out, but today it was perfect. Twenty years ago, you (Deez) interviewed me here at Scottsville with my first winner, with Jeff Lloyd … now 20 years later, to win a Group 3 here, is emotional. It’s my lovely late wife’s colours and we always dress in them. Gavin and I bought the horse together. King Pelles … KP … is my son (his initials) … that’s why we went for it … and I liked Duke of Marmalade. Gavin thought he would win a group race. Gareth is a real horseman and gentleman.”King Pelles, a Drakenstein Stud-bred four-year-old gelding bred by Duke Of Marmalade, won the Gr 3 Goodwood Chairmans Cup over 2500m on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day in January, beating Holding Thumbs by 1,75 lengths when receiving 2kg.
Therefore On Saturday his price of 10/1 was generous even if there was a 3kg swing in Holding Thumb’s favour at the weights, meaning he had to carry 58,5kg.
King Pelles is out of the Galileo mare Grail Maiden and is thus a half-brother to the Lancaster Bomber colt Legend Of Arthur, the Gr 1 SA Derby winner who is prominent in the Hollywoodbets Durban July betting.
Raced in partnership by Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom:Ravi Padayachee), Messrs D MacLean, G J Player & N V Parmanand, King Pelles was chosen by the astute Gavin Van Zyl and purchased for R475 000 off the BSA National Yearling Sale.
Now a winner of 5 races with 7 places from 20 starts, King Pelles has earned R729 94729 945.
Gareth said he would be worth following if he ran on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, although he did not commit to which race he would run in, and he added that his ultimate target is the Gr 3 Gold Cup on the last weekend of the season.
Earlier, the Varsfontein Stud-bred Lancaster Bomber three-year-old filly She’s A Bomber had also sat on the rail in fourth position in the Tote Oaks after jumping from draw five under Athandiwe Mgudlwa.
She ran on well to put heself in contention and then fought back well after Knockout had hit the front at the 200m mark looking the winner.
In the end She’s A Bomber, carrying 53,5kg, prevailed by 0,30 lengths from the strong-finishing favourite and topweight My Soul Mate, with Knockout beaten a length into third.
ATHANDIWE MGUDLWA said in the winner’s enclosure: “She loved the step up in distance. She’s won nicely and deserves it. It helped that the speed was on. From the position that I was in, the pace picked up at the right time. She was cruising when turning for home and dug down to win nicely. I don’t think that there was ever a doubt about her seeing out the trip … she just needed to strengthen up which she showed here today.”ALYSON WRIGHT said in the winner’s enclosure: “She’s always shown us that she’s a nice filly. There were a few disappointing runs, but she was always looking for this sort of trip and her aim was to come here. She’ll be a lovely mare after her racing career. Well done to Varsfontein … we love their horses. Kevin loved this filly … she was at the TBA Cape Town Sale … so well done to him for picking her.”It was the first time She’s Bomber, who is out of a Judpot mare, had gone over a staying trip so he has an interesting career ahead of her.
Alyson said, “We will enter her for the Splashout 2200 and just see and we will also look at the Gold Cup and Gold Bracelet on Gold Cup day.”
She’s a Bomber is owned by Rikesh Sewgoolam and Mauritian Reynolds Chung.
Alyson spoke about the purchase of She’s A Bomber, “Both Rikesh and Reynold said if we saw anything nice at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale to let them know and Kevin loved this filly. We had trained her half brother Inauguration, who won one race for us before going to Mauritius and won a few there. We clinched her for R150,000.”
She’s A Bomber has now won 4 races with 2 places from her 9 starts for stakes of R406 438.
