The Milnerton-based Crawford-Rix Racing Team maintained their good form off a 15% win strike-rate and saddled their fifth winner of the season when progressive apprentice Joshwin Solomons led his senior colleagues a merry dance in the fifth race at Durbanville on Tuesday.
Riding the lightly weighted recent maiden winner Fort Agopian, the 2,5kg claimer took full advantage of the lead allowed by his seven opponents in the MR 86 Handicap, and kept at his gallop every inch of the 1800m to beat the late-finishing Jailhouse Rock (16-1) by a facile 4,50 lengths.
While the withdrawal at the start of the fancied Al’s My Daddy, who spread his left hind shoe and had the toe clip embedded in the sole, made it easier, Solomons took maximum advantage on the talented R40 000 BSA KZN Yearling Sale graduate, who made it two on the trot and took his earnings to over R77 000.
The young apprentice was interviewed after the running of this race by the Stipes, who subsequently summonsed Jockeys Aldo Domeyer, Keagan de Melo and Grant van Niekerk, who were questioned with regard to their riding.
The video evidence was viewed, evidence was taken and the Board adjourned to review this evidence.
On the day Solomons and Aldo Domeyer shared the riding honours with two winners each, while Candice Bass-Robinson saddled a double.