Revenge is sweet and star 3yo Charles Dickens made it an emotional 2023 Champions Season mission accomplished as he turned the tables on his L’Ormarins King’s Plate conqueror Al Muthana in emphatic fashion, stamping his authority to win the R1 750 000 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The classy chestnut started a red-hot 5 to 10 favourite under clear blue Durban skies to land his second Gr1 success and his first win in open company.
The victory will likely also land him the spoils as Equus Champion Miler.
Aldo Domeyer acknowledges the crowd as Charles Dickens soars to victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The handsome athlete, who made them wait before arriving at the start, duly obliged in sensational style as he charged up the inside rail from off the pace and drifted out late as he and jockey Aldo Domeyer played to the large crowd to hold off their L’Ormarins King’s Plate conqueror Al Muthana (7-1) by 1,40 lengths in a time of 95,94 secs.
It was a thrilling victory coming on the heels of his WSB Gr2 Guineas success at the same venue last month and ‘Charles’ has clearly captured the imagination of the racing public on a level only seen from the likes of equine hero Kommetdieding and champion Horse Chestnut in the past 25 years.
There is no plan to run him in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, although that door remains open until 11h00 on Tuesday 13 June.
Runner-up Al Muthana was not disgraced as he ran his heart out to defend his title, but had to settle for the second cheque of R350 000.
Having only his second run after a rest, Zapatillas (40-1) finished best of the five Hollywoodbets Durban July entries for third and 3,10 lengths back.
Past winner Do It Again (20-1) was never in it and finished 7,65 lengths back, with only Cousin Casey behind in.
The Kotzen team may be reconsidering the fitment of the blinkers as the 3yo fought his rider early and blew his chances in the first 300m.
Jockey Aldo Domeyer, the only man ever to partner Charles Dickens, told of his love of and connection to the superstar and conceded that he had been a bit nervous in the build-up.
Aldo Domeyer is all smiles as Charles Dickens is led in by Kevin Sommerville, Oscar Nkunzi, Gaynor Rupert, and Candice Bass-Robinson (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Owner and breeder Gaynor Rupert emotionally acknowledged her fondness for Charles Dickens and his champion sire Trippi.
“One never knows whether we will return home to the ‘winter of despair’ but he never let’s us down,” she added in reference to the Charles Dickens quote from A Tale of Two Cities and against the background of the inevitable possibility of disappointment with even high-class flesh and blood.
Candice Bass-Robinson said that she was also nervous in the build-up.
“Everybody says it will be okay. But it’s not that simple. He is a fantastic and special horse. I am very fortunate to enjoy the Drakenstein support and to have a horse like Charles Dickens to train,” added the Milnerton conditioner, who could not confirm whether this was her charge’s swansong appearance this term.
Now a winner of 7 races with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R2 603 438, Charles Dickens is a Drakenstein home-bred son of past SA Champion sire Trippi (End Sweep) out of the five-times stakes winner Demanding Lady (Dynasty), who scored up to 2200m.
Charles Dickens wrote in Great Expectations that ‘we need never be ashamed of our tears.’ For those of us who didn’t banker the star in the Pick 6, those words echo true. What were we thinking?
Watch the replay here:
