Canford Cliffs handsome son Cliff Top booked his Gr1 Gold Medallion ticket for Hollywoodbets Scottsville in June, with a fairytale ‘comeback’ effort at Fairview on Friday, powering to a stylish victory in the R175 000 Listed East Cape Nursery.
Multiple local champion trainer-jockey combination Alan Greeff and Greg Cheyne conceded that they had learnt a valuable lesson when Cliff Top, clearly above himself, had blown up after starting a red hot favourite and overracing to fall in a hole at his last start.
A change of tactics was the tonic for Cliff Top (Pic – Pauline Herman)
“He came out with a reputation and after winning the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at Kenilworth on Met day with a front-running performance, he had ‘burnt no cherries’ when green that day. Back on home ground last time, he overraced and used up all of his energy. Today I gave him a chance and he ran on and delivered like I expected. Well done to Alan and his team – and to Hollywood and my sponsors Ridgemont Highlands on their partnership. This was an important win and he showed us that he is as good as we believe he is,” added Cheyne.
A visibly relieved trainer Alan Greeff admitted that despite believing that they had a good horse on their hands, one could start ‘second guessing’.
“We were bitterly disappointed last time – but we learnt our lesson. Well done to the Hollywood Syndicate and breeders Ridgemont Highlands,” he added, confirming that a trip to KZN was now on the cards.
After Cruise Control had led the way, Greg Cheyne produced Cliff Top (11-2) at about the 250m mark. The athletic colt extended like a professional to beat Forest Spy (5-1) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 69,49 secs.
Khaya’s Hope (14-1) was always in the mix and stayed on for third, a further 0,75 lengths back.
The Cape visitor and 18-10 favourite Alpine Challenge was never in the hunt and finished a well-beaten fourth.
When Cliff Top stepped out at Fairview on 1 April, he was the first runner of a 15 strong draft leased by the Hollywood Syndicate from leading Robertson-based breeders, Ridgemont Highlands.
The unique bulk lease, initiated by Gauteng trainer and longstanding Hollywood supporter Clinton Binda, is a platform to extend their national footprint, particularly in the Cape.
“This was an opportunity to also diversify our trainer support and enjoy the rare privilege of racing beautifully-bred high quality racehorses,” said former Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech, who manages the operation.
“It’s an association that we’d like to build on as we reinforce our goal of supporting the industry by not only investing back into racing, but also taking an active role in thoroughbred racehorse ownership throughout South Africa,” added Delpech.
Now a dual stakes winner with earnings of R233 500 from his 2 wins and a place from just four starts, Cliff Top was bred by Ridgemont Highlands out of the Western Winter one-time winner Bacqueira.
Canford Cliffs
With only a handful of runners from his first SA crop having seen the racecourse, his sire Canford Cliffs, who was recently recognised by Timeform as one of the greatest milers to grace the turf this century, has quickly caught the attention and his five lots on the BSA National Yearling Sale next week will be watched with keen interest.
Europe’s dominant miler at three and four, Canford Cliffs won five consecutive Gr1 races over the trip. He has produced winners in over 30 countries, including more than 40 stakes performers.
Exciting times for all!
OFFICIAL RESULT
TRAINER JOCKEY DISTANCE BETTING
1 ST 2 CLIFF TOP A Greeff G Cheyne 7/2
2 ND 4 FOREST SPY G Smith R Munger 1.25 1.25 5/1
3 RD 5 KHAYA’S HOPE G Smith J van der Merwe 0.75 2.00 25/2
4 TH 1 ALPINE CHALLENGE B Crawford L Mxothwa 2.25 4.25 2/1
5 TH 7 MUR MUR A Greeff T Gould 1.25 5.50 25/1
TIME OF RACE: 1 min 09.49 sec
Tote Favourite 1 ALPINE CHALLENGE B Crawford L Mxothwa 4.25 2/1
