Binda Back On His Old Stomping Ground

It will feel like old times at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday for trainer Clinton Binda who saddles two runners out of Milnerton, a training establishment from which he enjoyed plenty of success in his days with Mark Watters and Geoff Woodruff.

Muzi Yeni clearly enjoyed what Ziyasha showed him at Turffontein and shares that with Clinton Binda (Pic – JC Photos)

The Binda team set up camp for their Cape Summer Of Champions campaign at Lucinda Woodruff’s barn at Milnerton twelve days ago after the long road trip from their private training establishment at Lanseria.

“It really does feel like the good old days. Reminiscing with Geoff (Woodruff) about horses like my favourite Classical Lover, who I recall was sold on and became Penny Bester’s first winner. I enjoy training on the heavy tracks and it’s good seeing some of the old faces again,” added the man who went on his own in 2003 and, who we believe, still holds the unique modern SA record of winning consecutive races on consecutive days with the same horse in the former Dean Kannemeyer galloper St Stephen back in 2010.

Clint saddles two 4yo’s in the very talented Ziyasha (116) and Qhawe Lami (92) in the Hollywoodbets Durbanville tenth race, a 1000m Cape A Stakes contest, for the Hollywood Syndicate, who are fast approaching their 600 winner milestone.

Both will race unshod.

“I drove Ziyasha down in the two berth and my other six horses travelled down on the float. They have settled in well. They are both coming off breaks – Ziyasha was off for 19 weeks and Qhawe Lami all of 37 weeks. So in reality, they will both need it, but I’m not saying they can’t go close. The field has scratched down to six, but all four opponents are quality competitors. It’s tricky,” he laughed as he explained that the plans are to run the Ridgemont bred Ziyasha in the Winchester Stakes on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day and then in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on WSB Cape Town Met day.

Qhawe Lami – no slouch but may enjoy the country course (Pic – JC Photos)

Ziyasha’s form behind the likes of Tarry stars Thunderstruck and Lucky Lad speaks for itself.

“We are happy to have Richard Fourie aboard Ziyasha and we’d like to see the son of Rafeef come through this test well. He hasn’t galloped so this is effectively the start of his feature season prep. Richard has ridden him three times for a win and two places. So he knows him well. He’s quite a headstrong horse and it’s his first time on a left-hand turn. The run will certainly bring him on,” he told the Sporting Post on Friday.

Dyce (Craig Zackey) surges clear down the inside to beat Thunderstruck (Piere Strydom) in the 2024 Cape Flying Championship (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

While the retirement to stud of Equus Champion Sprinter Thunderstruck, and the absence due to Breeders Cup Turf commitments next month at Del Mar for the exciting Isivunguvungu, have thinned our speed ranks somewhat, the Cape Flying Championship remains a lofty goal for the progressive Ziyasha.

The gelding is likely to bump the likes of the revitalised defending champion Dyce, who has bounced back with two wins from two starts this term under Piere Strydom, and the uber quick Hollywood Syndicate-raced Cruise Control, who has won his only two starts this term at his Gqeberha home base by 9,25 lengths and looks to have reached his peak at 5.

Captain Arrow is currently quoted as a 14-10 favourite for the final race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, with Ziyasha at 28-10.

Carrying 10kgs less than his stablemate, Qhawe Lami is priced at 20-1 under Joshwin Solomons.

See the betting here.

The Hollywoodbets Durbanville racemeeting starts at 12h00 on Saturday.