Trainer Clinton Binda produced the magic for the Hollywood Syndicate on the inside track at Turffontein on Tuesday, when he saddled a double, including an expected popular victory by the Ridgemont bred Duke Of Marmalade gelding Qhawe Lami in the R400 000 Farm Sale Stakes.
Restricted to graduates of the CTS Farm Sale, the 1200m contest looked a fairly straightforward task for the little chestnut and he duly delivered under a confident Muzi Yeni.
Muzi Yeni steers the odds-on Qhawe Lami to a smooth win (Pic – JC Photos)
After running second to the smart Kotzen flyer Golden Tatjana in the KZN leg of the restricted non black-type contest, Qhawe Lami (9-10) looked the right one and after stalking the pacesetting Bregardt for much of the race, the Binda galloper was too strong and went on to withstand a late challenge from Richard The Great (13-2) by 2,30 lengths in a time of 72,17 secs.
“I wondered why the KZN winner Golden Tatjana didn’t make the trip. We may have had a problem if she did,” added a thrilled Binda, who thanked his good friend Craig Carey of Ridgemont.
“I only looked at this horse as I know Craig well. I want to thank a lot of people – the Hollywood Syndicate, my team, my wife.”
A son of the deceased Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill), the winner was bred by Ridgemont from the Var mare, Vice Versa.
He has now won 3 of 9 starts with 5 places and stakes of R480 375.
Qhawe Lami, whose name means ‘My Hero’, is no giant but earned the biggest cheque by a Binda galloper, when banking the R250 000 first stake on Tuesday.
This was the in-form Stone Stamcor-sponsored Muzi Yeni’s 26th winner of the season. Winning Form rider Richard Fourie rode a double on the day to take his tally to 16.
The Binda-Hollywood Syndicate combination celebrated a double when Richard Fourie booted Black Egret home to win the eighth.
Enjoy the feature replay:
