Vodacom Durban July day punters suffered a crushing body blow with the defeat of the red-hot odds on favourite Snowdance, who was pipped in the shadow of the post in the R1 million Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, courtesy of a peach of a textbook ride by SA Champion Jockey elect, Lyle Hewitson.
Lyle Hewitson drives Redberry Lane up the inside of Snowdance (Bernard Fayd’herbe) in a thrilling finish (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
After excuses at her last two starts with narrow defeats in strong feature company, Justin Snaith’s Snowdance looked to have everything in her favour here to confirm her status as a star 3yo when lining up from a 1 draw in the supporting Gr1 feature on the big day.
A popular Pick 6 banker, Snowdance had the world’s hopes riding on her back – and it is difficult to believe that she actually lost a race that she had in the bank inside the final 200m.
Bernard Fayd’herbe had Snowdance settled on the rail as Final Judgement led them into the turn for home. Just before they straightened up, Fayd’herbe switched his mount as Lyle Hewitson darted down the inside on Redberry Lane.
Avontuur-sponsored Lyle Hewitson – what a ride!
Fayd’herbe didn’t panic as he picked Snowdance up and the long-striding daughter of Captain Al surged into the lead amid the roars of the crowd.
With Redberry Lane beaten down his inside, Fayd’herbe kept his mount on course for victory. But that is when Hewitson obviously felt something lurking in the tank and got to work. He had Redberry Lane lift her game with a second wind as she came storming back for more.
Into the last 50m the Tarry 4yo drew level and in a dramatic heads up-heads down thriller, Hewitson had done enough to upstage his senior colleague.
It was a heartstopping disappointing climax to a magnificent day for the Snaith Team.
The photo showed that the 22-1 Redberry Lane had gotten the verdict by a nostril to win in a time of 97,22 secs.
The super talented Hewitson rode a Gr1 winner over the same course and distance last month, when Undercover Agent won the Rising Sun Gold Challenge.
Elusive Heart ran on nicely for third, 2,25 lengths back.
In her swansong appearance, the runner-up’s stablemate Gimme Six came from miles back for fourth.
Sean Tarry – decent day at the office
Sean Tarry enjoyed a feature double on the day and had the Syringa Handicap winner in fine trim.
The gutsy filly has won 3 races with 7 places from 15 starts.She took her earnings to R949 025.
Owned and bred by Lammerskraal Stud, the winner is by Western Winter (Gone West) out of the top-class Strawberry Lane (Jallad), who has produced the likes of Guineas winner Solo Traveller – ironically trained by the Snaiths.
_________
Gr1 Garden Province Stakes (SAf-Gr1)
Greyville, South Africa, July 7, R1 million, 1600m, turf, good, 1.37.22
1 – REDBERRY LANE (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Western Winter (USA) – Strawberry Lane (SAF) by Jallad (USA). Owner Lammerskraal Stud; Breeder Lammerskraal Stud; trainer SG Tarry; jockey L Hewitson
2 – Snowdance (SAF), 59.0, b f 3, Captain Al (SAF) – Spring Lilac (SAF) by Joshua Dancer (USA)
3 – Elusive Heart (SAF), 59.0, b f 3, Elusive Fort (SAF) – Redeem My Heart (SAF) by Indigo Magic (GB)
Margins: 0.05, 2.25, 0.05
