In one of the biggest Gr1 upset results in recent seasons, the Vercingetorix gelding Astrix, one of twelve Hollywoodbets Durban July entries in the field, kept going gallantly to record his maiden stakes victory and become his top sire’s fifth Gr1 winner in a thrilling climax to the R2 million TAB Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday.
After Master Archie’s victory a half hour earlier, Astrix (a variation on the popular spelling of the Gaul warrior) maintained the cartoon name theme, although many players wouldn’t exactly have seen the comedy in a 66-1 shot winning a race where the ever popular Kommetdieding was backed into odds on, with expectations of recording his third Gr1 success and redeeming himself after his recent third in the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.
JP van der Merwe leans low on Astrix to gain a narrow win (Pic – JC Photos)
But the Kommet fairytale was not to be, with rampant trainer Paul Peter, and owners Gary Tooch and the Hyperpaint Syndicate enjoying a massive day.
The champagne corks were also popping down in Robertson with the Riverton Stud team celebrating their own memorable day.
JP van der Merwe has his personal comeback tale to tell after returning from Singapore and only restarting his riding career just last month. His wife Abbi told the Sporting Post that this was the first Gr1 winner that she had been at races to see her husband win on. “I’m never staying home again!” she laughed.
After Kommetdieding had hit the front early in the straight, it was Astrix who plugged away doggedly with Sparkling Water flying up late.
In a thrilling drive to the wire Van der Merwe somehow kept Astrix at it to beat the rest of his fellow Hollywoodbets Durban July entries. Savannah Storm was the only non July entrant in the race, and he ran out of puff to finish last.
Sparkling Water (9-2) was a head back in second, with Puerto Manzano (16-1) running another game race in third, and Flying Carpet in fourth (3 lengths).
Gavin Lerena conceded that the fifth placed and 4,25 lengths in arrears Kommetdieding’s performance was ‘a disappointment’.
“It was a disappointment yes. But thank God he has pulled up well. He came out the gates well and I held up the pace for a bit, waiting. But nobody came round me. We almost had to dictate our own pace in the end. It didn’t work out today,” he said.
Kommetdieding was officially reported to be fatigued.
Trainer Paul Peter enjoyed a red-letter day and said that he was thrilled for Astrix, who had often had hard-luck stories with bad draws and the rest.
Victorious JP van der Merwe and the happy Peter team (Pic – JC Photos)
A R60 000 buy from the 2018 Cape Yearling Sale, Astrix has now won 7 races with 13 places from 32 starts and stakes of R1 990 850.
His Klawervlei Stud-bred sire Vercingetorix (Silvano) was the first weanling ever pin hooked by the Riverside Grooms Thoroughbred Co-Op, who raised the now famous Silvano colt at Riverton Stud.
They also bred Astrix at Riverton out of the late Victory Moon mare Victory Dance
Vercingetorix enjoyed a sensational time at the recently concluded National Yearling Sale, with 41 yearlings selling for R25, 55 million and averaging R623 293.
South Africa’s Champion Sire elect for 2021-2022, Vercingetorix has now been responsible for 19 stakes winners.
Where the rest of the Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls ran:
- MK’s Pride sixth and 4,30 lengths behind.
- Shangani ran seventh and 5,10 lengths behind.
- Zeus ran eighth and 7,10 lengths behind.
- Johnny Hero ran ninth and 7,50 lengths behind.
- Zillzaal ran tenth 12 lengths behind.
- Second Base ran eleventh and 13 lengths behind.
- Shango ran twelfth and 14,75 lengths behind.
