Tony Rivalland’s consistent 3yo King Of The Gauls confirmed his potential as a progressive sprinting prospect when he easily accounted for his opposition to register his maiden stakes success in the R200 000 Listed In Full Flight Handicap at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
King Of The Gauls (Sean Veale) registers his maiden stakes success (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Raced by Cape owner Robert Bloomberg, who hasn’t really had a decent horse for some years now, and longstanding KZN stalwart Mary Liley, the handsome son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) now looks on target for the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, with a bit of help from the handicappers. He raced off a 97 here.
Sean Veale, who probably got the ride on the 28-10 shot ahead of regular pilot Richard Fourie in view of the 52,5kgs, did nothing wrong and had them cold at the 250m to hold off the attentions of the hard-knocking 5yo Quasiforsure (25-2) by 1,30 lengths in a time of 61,31 secs for the 1100m.
The Hollywood Syndicate enjoyed a 3-4 with the overdue-to-win-again Hithemhardsunshine (7-1) a head away in third, ahead of the low-flying Gauteng raider Black Egret (40-1).
“You know Mr Rivalland, he can sometimes drive you mad. But he had him spot on today. He’s a nice up-and coming horse. I’d like to stick with him,” quipped the always smiling Sean Veale in the post-race interview, before wishing Suzette Viljoen and Deryl Daniels a happy birthday.
Summerveld trainer Tony Rivalland observed that King Of The Gauls is ‘a handsome horse’.
“He looked brilliant, even if I may say so myself. I was a bit worried that he’d overdo it with all the speed around him. It was a very meritorious victory,” he added.
The Maine Chance Farms-bred gelding was acquired for R700 000 at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2022.
He has now won 4 races with 3 places from 9 starts and stakes of R365 938.
A son of the high-class Vercingetorix (Silvano), he is out of the lightly raced Australian-bred High Chaparral mare Grande Roche, who won easily on debut for Geoff Woodruff over 1200m.
On breeding King Of The Gauls should really go 2000m, but nobody’s arguing about that with him doing so well over the sprints!
Let’s hope he gets a chance to take on the serious speedsters – even under sufferance – in the Golden Horse Sprint in June.
