Despite having three individual Inquiries opened on his use of the crop at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday, jockey Grant van Niekerk bounced back with his second consecutive raceday double at the country course on what was a sunny and festive Saturday afternoon of mixed fortunes for punters.
Van Niekerk’s rides on Peregrine Falcon (winner), Navy Strength (fifth) and third placed True Horizon in the final race last Tuesday reportedly had inquiries opened into the use of the crop.
We await the outcome thereof – as we also await further news on the now six week old official complaint laid by the connections against Van Niekerk’s ride on Zeus in the World Pool Gold Cup.
But the enigmatically talented rider showed character as he bounced back on Saturday, winning the first two races for Justin Snaith on Beware The Bomb (3-1) and Let It Be Said (5-10), before being beaten on two favourites for the same yard.
Owner Jonathan Bloch keeps an eye on Let It Be Said (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The first of the frustrating two runner-up finishes was on the handsome Danon Platina colt Landoftherisingsun, a R900 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, who won’t be long in winning.
Craig Zackey and Eric Sands produced the Pick 6 knockout courtesy of the Querari colt Dalmeny Factor who improved to win at his third start.
The now retired Glen Puller selected the winner, an R80 000 at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale. Dalmeny Factor carried the same colours as the ill-fated Illuminator, the inaugural winner of the CTS Million Dollar in January 2016.
Owner Frances Carruthers was on course to lead the Michael de Broglio bred 3yo in.
Van Niekerk really did most things right on the beautiful Lancaster Bomber grey Among The Clouds in the fifth, an 1800m Class 4 for fillies and mare. But was pipped by the ‘fittest jockey in South Africa’ in Ossie Noach, who rode a really clever race on the Vaughan Marshall trained Princess Of Bayeaux, who has upped her game since shedding her maiden at this track in May.
Corne Orffer rode a confident race on Arctic Wizard to shed his maiden in the third. He beat the improving Grand Allegro, with the favourite Masterofthedesert likely to be better over further.
Backing trainer Paul Lafferty’s protest of last Sunday, trainer Greg Ennion said that the handicapper will ‘probably slaughter him’ and that if they want to destroy racing, they were going about it the right way.
Milnerton trainer Piet Botha celebrated a double on the afternoon, with Sporting Post-sponsored Louis Mxothwa riding his fifth winner in two days when Shifting Path maintain his consistency, to register a second consecutive victory in the seventh, a Cape C Stakes over 1000m.
Richard Fourie and Rodicchio win an entertaining final race on the card (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The final race of the afternoon produced an interesting finish, with the Piet Botha pair of Rodicchio (Richard Fourie) and Das Gute (Devin Ashby) racing alone up the outside and parachuting into the televised version of the race at around the 150m mark. Those punters shouting the well-supported Captain West home were in for a surprise as the Botha pair ghosted onto the screen.
“This was no master plan. They both hang out and so I can understand how it unfolded. I said at the yard this morning that we could have our first exacta today. They just finished the other way around that I anticipated, but I’m not complaining, “ explained the former jockey of the Dare To Dream exacta that paid R28 odd.
For Richard Fourie it was a memorable moment and his first winner for his new sponsors, Ridgemont.
“I was feeling confident. Next minute I heard Devin (Ashby) shouting. I thought, ‘where did you come from?’ But it worked out well. Thanks to Ridgemont. I look forward to a good partnership,” added the newly crowned SA champion who has 14 winners to his name and must be watching the Muzi Yeni show (now 40 winners), closely.
The Pick 6 on the afternoon paid a healthy R378 123-90.
The next Hollywoodbets Durbanville racemeeting is on Saturday 21 September and features the Listed Settlers Trophy
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