Magnificent Marwing

Sand Hand. Here Comes Billy (S’manga Khumalo) draws clear to beat Uncle Tommy (in stripes). JC Photos

Trainer Weiho Marwing would have booked a large lunch table for Emerald Cup day after a terrific clean sweep in Saturday’s Gr3 R200 000 August Stakes run over the Vaal sand 1200m. Marwing trained the first two home in the feature and goes into Africa’s richest race on sand with a powerful hand.

The winner of this event is guaranteed an Emerald Cup berth, and Here Comes Billy will justify every inch of the space that he takes up in his starting gate.

It is fantastic to see a trainer so spot on with his assessment, and those astute punters who had listened to the post race interview (or even read last weekend’s Sporting Post preview) following Here Comes Billy’s last win, would have heard Marwing suggest that he was an ‘even better horse on sand.’

The Riverworld Stud bred son of Muhtafal came out with all guns blazing in his very first run on sand on Saturday, and made his trainer look anything but a fool.

Uncle Tommy and Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint winner Contador led the charge from Eugenes, with Here Comes Billy relaxed further back.

Uncle Tommy hesitated momentarily as Contador appeared to get the better of him at the 400m.

Like the bighearted warrior that he is, Uncle Tommy found a second breath and came back for more just as his stablemate sailed past down the outside.

Here Comes Billy stormed into the lead under the high riding  S’manga Khumalo at the 300m marker, and went on strongly to beat the gallant  Uncle Tommy by 1,25 lengths in a time of 72,79 secs.

Leon Erasmus’ Nice Stride finished with a rattle to run fourth, just behind the disappointing Contador, who was a trifle one paced late.

Here Comes Billy has won 4 races with 5 places from 11 starts. He took his stake earnings to R331 700.

Bred by Riverworld Stud , he is a R120 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 purchase and is by Muhtafal out of the unraced Jet Master mare, Fast Tempo.

Here Comes Billy received 5kgs from Uncle Tommy and weight from a few others, but his win nevertheless suggested that there is plenty yet to come. It was a particularly smart effort from the 11 draw.

He has won over a mile on the turf, and is bound to stay every inch of the Emerald Cup.

If he were to win there, it would be a tremendous feather in the cap for his trainer.

The next phase of a well hatched plan appears ready to fall into place.

.