Philippi trainer Brett Crawford has a live Hollywoodbets Durban July candidate on his hands after the very talented Zapatillas won a humdinger finish to Saturday’s R400 000 Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Luyolo Mxothwa and Gwen MacGregor enjoy the post-race formalities (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
On a high-class day of outstanding quality competitive horseracing, Zapatillas emerged as a name worth pencilling in over the next few months. He has firmed from 33’s to 20-1 in the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post market.
Under Louis Mxothwa, the Master Of My Fate colt produced a strong late run which saw him get up in the shadow of the post in an agonizingly close call to deny the front-running Supreme Warrior victory by a short head – and substitute jockey Calvin Habib what would have been a dream Guineas double.
Zapatillas (7-1) got up to beat the front-running Gauteng raider Supreme Warrior (25-1) by a head in a pedestrian time of 96,79 secs.
On a day where the Snaith Racing Team were generally quiet, Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power (7-2) produced a cracking showing to shade Diadem winner Cosmic Highway (5-2) for third.
From a poor draw, Cape Guineas winner Double Superlative (14-1) made serious ground to grab fifth just under a length back.
Zapatillas provided Varsfontein Stud’s homebred sire Master Of My Fate with a second G2 World Sports Betting Guineas winner after Twist Of Fate in 2019.
It was a second black type win for Zapatillas, with the promising son of Master Of My Fate also victorious in the Listed #WomenInRacing Sophomore Sprint earlier in the season.
Zapatillas (Louis Mxothwa) flashes up on the outside of pacemaker Supreme Warrior (Calvin Habib) in a thrilling finish (Pic -Candiese Lenferna)
Out of the Mogok mare Moggytwoshoes, Zapatillas was a R260 000 buy from the 2020 National Yearling Sale. He has won 3 races with 4 places from 7 starts for stakes of R441 425.
His sire Master Of My Fate has been in excellent form of late, and Zapatillas joins impressive recent Gr3 WSB Variety Club Mile winner Gem King as a graded stakes winning three-year-old for Master Of My Fate in recent weeks.
Zapatillas was one of two winners for Master Of My Fate at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, with the son of Jet Master also responsible for Colour Master -victorious in the third.
First declarations for the 2022 R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July are due by 11h00 on Monday 9 May.
