Winless in the 680 odd days since he won the World Sports Betting Gr1 SA Derby on April fool’s day back in 2023, the now 5yo Son Of Raj found his best tune under Gavin Lerena as a well-backed winner of the R400 000 Betway Gr3 London News Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
Son Of Raj (Gavin Lerena) makes an overdue return to the winner’s enclosure (Pic – JC Photos)
Supported into 2-1 at the off, Son Of Raj carried too many guns inside the final 300m and drew away to beat the topweight Purple Pitcher, who looked dead and buried at the 350m, but rallied well to bank second.
On a weather elements interrupted afternoon, the R400 000 Betway Gr3 London News Stakes honoured the extraordinary exploits of London News, one of only seven horses to win the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the WSB Cape Town Met.
The Alec Laird-trained champion son of Bush Telegraph is best known as the SA equine ambassador who achieved international fame by winning the 1997 QE II Cup in Hong Kong.
Gavin Lerena made it a second win on the afternoon as he guided the 5yo to a good winfor trainer Tony Peter in a time of 114,79 secs for the 1800m.
My Soul Mate (6-1) carried the flag for the fairer sex, running into third ahead of former Cape-based Rodicchio (10-1), who now races for Barend Botes.
Bred by proud owner Steven Chetty, the winner was raised at the Freeman family’s Boland Stud and is a son of deceased Cartier Champion and five time Gr1 winner, Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) out of the three-time winning Black Minnaloushe mare, Freudinia.
Son Of Raj is now a winner of 5 races with 5 places from 20 starts for stakes of R1 587 250.
Interestingly Son Of Raj, who ran off a 119 on Saturday, had his merit rating raised from 81 to 115 after his victory when beating the 114-rated Billy Bowlegs in the 2023 SA Derby, with the third placed Rule By Force used as the line horse on a rating of 108.
