Withdrawn on the eve of the 2017 Vodacom Durban July, Justin Snaith’s Silvano gelding Elusive Silva showed that horseracing can sometimes deliver second chances.
The big chestnut bounded home relatively unfancied to win the R500 000 Gr2 WSB 1900 at Greyville on Saturday and set himself up for a run on 7 July.
Bernard Fayd’herbe has Elusive Silva staying on well to hold Craig Zackey and Dark Moon Rising (Pic – Denzil Govender / Gold Circle)
The Snaith Vodacom Durban July express built up further momentum on Saturday with Elusive Silva’s victory followed by their Silvano mare Star Express beating stablemate African Night Sky in a sizzling big race prep in a Pinnacle Stakes a half hour later!
The shock scratching of Glen Kotzen 3yo Pack Leader threw the WSB 1900 even wider open and with a preferential July consideration ticket up for grabs, there was plenty to play for, with ten of the twelve runners being entries for the R4,25 million spectacular.
From the worst of the draw, Bernard Fayd’herbe – who was also aboard Star Express – had Elusive Silva settled at the rear as Kampala Campari led Crowd Pleaser and Strathdon in the run for home.
Avoiding traffic, Bernard Fayd’herbe took Elusive Silva from the rail and switched him to the centre of the straight for his run.
With his long stride carrying him past the leaders, Elusive Silva had the race under control at the 200m and ran on powerfully to beat the consistent Dark Moon Rising by a half length in a time of 116,34 secs.
Bernard Fayd’herbe – nice double
Matador Man put in his customary late finishing run a further 2,25 lengths further back, to shade Platinum Prince into fourth.
The top four are all July hopefuls and did their big race prospects no harm.
Elusive Silva was not in the first July log top 25, but is bound to find himself in contention when the second log is published next Wednesday.
The 5yo was off the track for seven months after sustaining that July-bid ending injury in June last year. He was prepped in the Peninsula but the Sun Met may have come tooo quickly after that.
This was his second run after running a decent fifth behind Head Honcho in the Sledgehammer on 22 April.
A dual Gr3 winner previously, this was a career peak win and he took his tally to six victories with 3 places from 16 starts and stakes of R896 750.
A Cape Premier Yearling Sale R375 000 buy, he was bred by Nutfield Stud and is a son of champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the one-time winner Esprit (Fort Wood).
Justin Snaith enjoyed a great afternoon – saddling the last three (all Silvano) winners at Greyville.
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Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900 (SAf-Gr2)
Greyville, South Africa, May 19, R500k, 1900m, turf, good, 1.56.34
1 – ELUSIVE SILVA (SAF), 60.0, ch g 5, Silvano (GER) – Esprit (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA). Owner Messrs E G Bouwer, E A Braun, P S Loomes, Jonathan Snaith & K P Truter & Mrs Jane Truter; Breeder Nutfield Stud; trainer J Snaith; jockey B Fayd’herbe
2 – Dark Moon Rising (SAF), 56.0, b g 4, Ideal World (USA) – Full Moon Rising (SAF) by Second Empire (IRE)
3 – Matador Man (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, Toreador (IRE) – Sahara (SAF) by Mogok (USA)
Margins: 0.50, 2.25, 0.05
