Cape trainer Justin Snaith joked that he hailed from a competitive family and that he would be replaced if he didn’t do a decent job. The Phillipi conditioner was talking after his smart 2yo Harry Lime had annihilated his opposition in the R200 000 Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes run over 1200m at Scottsville on Sunday.
Snaith said that he was not worried about his colleagues but rather the pressure from his well known family of highly qualified horse folk. The operation rounded off a cracking weekend with winners in PE, Kenilworth and at Scottsville and look well set for a major assault on the KZN Champions Season.
Snaith added that a lack of box space in KZN had only allowed him to bring up ‘half of the A team’ but that he was happy that they would make their presence felt.
And he looks to have something very special on his hands in the Var colt Harry Lime, who showed for most of the trip on his first visit to Scottsville and then drew away to beat Mastermind.
Despite lugging out and running very green, Richard Fourie always had Harry Lime in the firing line and he went on strongly at 2 to 1 to beat another Var in Mastermind by 3,75 lengths in a time of 71,20 secs.
Mike De Kock’s Mastermind(14 to 1) was also all over the place and can only improve on this showing.
Jockey Richard Fourie said that Harry Lime was a lLovely horse with a temperament to be a champion. “He lacked early speed but that can be a good sign,” he suggested.
Trainer Justin Snaith said that not too many horses could work alongside Arria and that had given him the confidence
“He is such a special little horse with a great temperament. He is unconscious at home and wakes up at the races,” he laughed.
Harry Lime is owned by Fred Crabbia and was bred by Rathmor Stud.
He sold for R350 000 on the National Yearling Sale.
A son of Var, he is out of the one time winning Alami mare, Rattled.
Harry Lime now heads for the Gold Medallion at the same track next month.
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Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes (SAf-Gr2) Scottsville, South Africa, April 27, R200k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.11.02 1- HARRY LIME (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Var (USA) – Rattled (SAF) by Alami (USA). Owner Mr A L A Crabbia; breeder Rathmor Stud; trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie 2-Mastermind (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Var (USA) – Model I.Q. (SAF) by Jallad (USA) 3-Harry’s Son (AUS), 58.0, b c 2, Haradasun (AUS) – Dash On Ruby (AUS) by Anabaa (USA) Margins: 3¾, 1½, 1