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Saturday saw South Arica’s best sprinters in action at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, with four Grade 1 sprints on the nine race card.
The feature race, the R1 million, Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m delivered Athandiwe Mgudlwa his first Grade 1 winner as he booted home Normanz (Var{USA}) for trainer Charles Laird. Normanz was a chance ride for Mgudlwa after Glen Hatt was stood down earlier in the day.
Normanz led from start to finish, comfortably holding off race favourite, Red Ray (Anton Marcus), despite drifting outwards in the latter stages, to win by 1.5 lengths in a speedy 68.67 seconds.
Red Ray(Western Winter{USA}) led a small group up the standside rail, but despite Marcus allowing the colt to drift in, in search of better ground, there was no catching the flying Normanz.
Whiteline Fever(Right Approach{GB}) and Piere Strydom finished in third a further length back. Laird, who was celebrating his third Golden Horse Sprint victory, was full of praise for Mgudlwa, who rides work for him. “He really deserved this ride and I’m very happy for him.”
It was certainly Var’s day as the stallion also sired Via Africa, winner of the R600 000 Grade 1, The City of Pietermaritzburg SA Fillies Sprint(1200m), who successfully defended her crown.
Under Kevin Shea, the multiple Grade 1 sprint queen, led from start to finish, hard up the inside rail, as she did in 2013. In the closing stages however, the furious pace started to take its toll on the four-year-old and for a while it looked as if the fast finishing Fly By Night(Grant van Niekerk), may catch Via Africa.
Shea however is a master when it comes to timing finishes to perfection and while Fly By Night(Jet Master{SAF}) was in front one stride past the post, it was Via Africa’s white face that greeted the judge. The official margin was a nose, with Jet Aglow(Jet Master{SAF}) and Sean Cormack a further three lengths back in third, while the winning time was 69.06 seconds.
With a fourth victory in five years, trainer Dennis Drier, has certainly laid claim to the R600 000, Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over 1200m for two-year-olds, as Guiness(Seventh Rock{AUS}), in only his second start, led from start to finish, to win by 0.25 lengths.
Champion jockey Anton Marcus took the lead from the jump and kept the colt going despite a late challenge from the only filly in the race, Grade 1 SA Nursery winner, Carry On Alice and S’Manga Khumalo.
Harry’s Son (AUS) (Haradasun{AUS}) under Stuart Randolph finished three lengths back in third. A delighted Drier complimented Marcus on a masterful ride, “I didn’t think he would have the pace to be up there. It was a great ride from Anton. I really rated this horse, even before he raced.”
Muzi Yeni may be known as a top jockey, but his tally of Grade 1 winners was precisely two before he steered Alboran Sea(AUS)(Rock Of Gibraltar{IRE}) home for Mike de Kock in the R600 000, Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m for two-year-old Fillies. Yeni waited patiently for a gap to open between pacemakers Balkan and Flame Cat and for a while it looked as if all was lost.
Fortunately, his nerve held, the split came and Alboran Sea and Yeni swept into the lead. From there it was game over as the Australian import scooted clear to win impressively by 2.25 lengths from another import Rich Girl(AUS)(Rock Of Gibraltar{IRE}) and Anton Marcus. “I had to bide my time,” said Yeni. “Flame Cat kept coming over and I knew I couldn’t go too soon and be forced to check. So I waited for the split and then went for it. She’s a top filly,” he added.
