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Louis The King - a reject as a yearling - made history at Turffontein on Saturday when he won the G1 SA Derby to become only the second horse to claim South Africa’s coveted Triple Crown for three-year-olds.
Trainer Geoff Woodruff’s charge showed the grit of a true champion as he fought off the tenacious efforts of As You Like over the final 200m of the R2 million contest over 2450m.
Racing’s newest hero emulated the feat of the great Horse Chestnut more than a decade ago, having previously won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic.
“These sort of horses come along once in a lifetime and you just have to grab them with both hands,” said jockey Robbie Fradd.
Fradd emigrated to Australia last month but made a special trip back to Johannesburg to ride Louis The King, having partnered him to victory in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic.
“I said to the owner I would swim back here for Louis. Every time you ask him to do a little extra, he gives it to you,” said Fradd.
The rider confessed that he feared he might have made his final run a bit too early, due to “nerves”.
Woodruff said that Louis The King had held off a determined challenge showed he had “won fair and square” and described the son of Black Minnaloushe as “just very special”.
Louis The King is owned by Tian van der Vyver, who paid just R60,000 for him in a private sale – after the colt had been rejected for the leading yearling auctions and had not attracted a bid at the KwaZulu-Natal July sale.
He has now won six of seven starts and, with the R2-million Triple Crown bonus, has amassed more than R3.2-million in prize money.
Woodruff had earlier saddled the impressive Yorker to victory in the G1 President’s Champions Challenge, beating stablemate Tellina in that R2-million race.
In the Derby, Ilitshe went to the lead with As You Like, Supertube, Fort Bellini, Leeuloop Jet, Atomic Rush, Earl Of Derby and Louis The King in line behind.
Along the back stretch Louis The King dropped the bit and slipped some 10 lengths off the pace.
However, climbing the hill into the final bend, he took a hold again and Fradd’s confidence grew. Ilitshe dictated into the straight, but the favourite was suddenly at the head of the charge.
As You Like, from the Alec Laird stable, was not about to throw in the towel but the favourite began to pull ahead to make history by a length.
Laird has been unfortunate to bump into a freakish opponent this season as his runners have filled second place in each of the Triple Crown legs.
There was several lengths back to third-placed Earl Of Derby, who just held off Gone Baby Gone, who ran on from well back.
Stallion Black Minnaloushe also had a glory day – his offspring winning both the Derby and the SA Oaks.
The G1 R1-million Oaks provided further proof that Weiho Marwing has a special touch with endurance horses, with his charge Ash Cloud running out a comprehensive winner.
Ridden by his brother Weichong Marwing Ash Cloud forged away from Mohave Princess to win by three lengths. Coby ran on well to claim third, ahead of Touch The Sky.
Owned by Dayalan Chinsammy, Ash Cloud is by Black Minnaloushe out of Star Of Arcole, who herself won the Oaks.
She has now won three of eight starts and amassed about R730 000 in prize money.
