A big friendly giant of a horse, Piet Botha’s Galactic Path made it three wins on the bounce with a cracking showing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
The son of Pathfork fetched just R15 000 when astutely purchased by the Milnerton trainer at the 2020 BSA Mystico Sale.
On Saturday at the revamped country course, Galactic Path went off a popular 17-10 choice in the final race of the day, the Hollywoodbets Bright Future MR 74 Handicap over 2000m, and made it three in a row under the in-form Louis Mxothwa for the Dare To Dream Team.
Louis Mxothwa steers Galactic Path to a good win, chased by Nothingelsematters (JP van der Merwe) in the luck last (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
“The plan was to aim him at the 2021 Cape Winter triple crown but he wasn’t ready. He really has found his feet as a 4yo! He is a close to a 17ha giant of a specimen, and I probably raced him too early. Despite that he ran a smart fifth on debut and he really is in fine form now,” added a delighted trainer Piet Botha.
The Milstream Farm-bred son of Pathfork (Distorted Humor) won his maiden over a mile at the eighth time of asking, and hasn’t stopped since – registering a win at 2000m at his first attempt on Saturday.
Happy connections lead in their winner as the shadows lengthen at Hollywoodbets Durbanville (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
With the news breaking in a chat with Cape Racing Head Of Racing Operations Justin Vermaak on Saturday that the World Sports Betting Winter Series, which was made up of races restricted to three-year olds, has been opened in 2023 to horses of all ages, Piet Botha and Galactic Path could get another bite at the tasty cherry!
The boys and girls series of races from a mile to 2400m in the dead of the steel grey Cape winter will be run at WFA terms plus conditions for stakes winners. Watch this space for the exciting story of other changes this coming week!
“Hell, that’s really exciting news and it certainly gives us an alternative to going to KZN for the Champions Season!” added Piet Botha, who is fast developing a reputation as a man who buys serious horses at bottom dollar prices.
An elated Piet Botha and Mandla Sokomani enjoy the moment (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
He explained how he managed to pick the half-brother to Corrie Lensley’s smart Oratorio 3yo Orarari Gold up so cheaply.
“I was buying on spec I liked him the moment I saw him. He was a very balanced individual with a beautiful walk. Kim Bosman and Martin Le Roux’s Lipari Racing got involved and then Netherlands-based Andre van Schaik, who doesn’t buy young horses as a rule, joined the partnership. I managed to convince him that he would not be disappointed. I’m so thrilled it’s worked out well and Galactic Path should give us all a lot more fun, “ added Piet.
When asked about his charge’s size, the former jockey said that these kind of horses generally took a little longer.
“He reminds me size-wize of a horse called Dancing Dervish that I won a few races on back in 1997 for Glen Puller. He’s really big! And I think the Winter Series will be right down his alley. I am sure he will go 2400m and he enjoys the kind winter going,” he concluded.
Louis Mxothwa and Winning Form-sponsored Keagan de Melo rode a double and treble respectively on another atmosphere-charged afternoon at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and now jointly head the local log.
