A smart call to skip the SA Nursery on Champions Day at Turffontein and go the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes route at Hollywoodbets Scottsville with the Querari gelding Prophet, could prove to be a defining moment in the outcome of the 2022 Gr1 Gold Medallion.
The Spies family have enjoyed great success over the years at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville speed extravaganza, know how to win the Grade 1’s.
Craig Zackey eases Prophet up for a smart win (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While it is difficult to measure the strength of most of the form, including that of the likes of the East Cape-based dual stakes winner Cliff Top and the Hollywood Syndicate’s undefeated Hithemhardsunshine, who has won his only two starts for Eric Sands in the Cape, Prophet certainly looks the real deal and the experience gained from Sunday’s feature victory could prove to be invaluable come the big speed raceday on 4 June.
Corne Spies’s charge, a full brother to the Botha family’s Benmarne Stud-bred Monk’s Hood who was exported to Hong Kong after winning the 2017 Dingaans and the 2018 Gauteng Guineas, won his debut at the Vaal just ten days ago. There he was all at sea but picked up his feet from last and turned on the jets to win going away.
On Sunday, he was allowed by Craig Zackey to relax again and when asked Prophet simply streaked away at 33-10 to beat hometown hope Gladatorian (4-1) by 3,80 lengths in a time of 63,35 secs.
Aztec Warrior (12-1) was third, with Glen Kotzen’s highly regarded Countdown (5-4) appearing to be in need of the run and beaten almost 5 lengths into fourth.
Retained for racing by the Botha family after failing to make his reserve at the 2021 National Yearling Sale, Prophet is a son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the thrice winning Camden Park mare, Amber Bouquet. The latter was purchased at a Riethuiskraal dispersal sale in foal to Daylami.
Prophet has won two from two and took his stakes earning to R171 875. He is bred to go further, so is clearly an exciting prospect.
OFFICIAL RESULT:
| No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Distance | Betting | ||||
| 1st | 5 | PROPHET | C Zackey | C Spies | —- | 33/10 | |||
| 2nd | 3 | GLADATORIAN | S Veale | D R Drier | 3.80 | 3.80 | 4/1 | ||
| 3rd | 2 | AZTEC WARRIOR | W Kennedy | W Badenhorst/B Kennedy | 0.20 | 4.00 | 25/2 | ||
| 4th | 7 | COUNTDOWN | R Fourie | G S Kotzen | 0.90 | 4.90 | 5/4 | ||
| 5th | 6 | RETURN TO RUSSIA | S Khumalo | M D Miller | 0.70 | 5.60 | 25/2 | ||
| Time of Race : 63.35s | |||||||||
| Tote Favourite:
COUNTDOWN |
Distance : 4.90 Betting : 5/4 | ||||||||
