Killua Castle (outside) stays on marginally better to beat July hopeful Halve The Deficit in a Jubilee Handicap thriller (JC Photos)
Sean Tarry’s Halve The Deficit performed best of the Vodacom Durban July prospects in Saturday’s R200 000 Gr3 Betting World Jubilee Handicap run over 1800m at Turffontein. The son of Right Approach just failed to resist a fighting late challenge from Geoff Woodruff’s Australian bred Killua Castle, who came up on punters.
The Jubilee Handicap was the last chance for July brownie points and there was some irony that Geoff Woodruff’s lesser fancied runner (Killua Castle is not in the July) produced a great run to beat his stablemate Tellina, who could do no better than run eighth and 6,50 lengths behind the surprise winner.
While the recent positive and negative form swings of various entrants and the withdrawal of Yorker and Beach Beauty, have made the July log per 5 June mostly academic, it is still worth looking at the standings.
Tellina is currently at 8 on the log, while the 17th standing Halve The Deficit emerged with the most credit of the quartet of July hopefuls. He surely deserves a run.
At 9 on the log, Ormond Ferraris’ Cherry On The Top ran on steadily for third and 2,25 lengths behind the winner. She carried 60,5kgs and the pace would not have suited her. A typically reserved Mr Ferraris labelled her effort, ‘okay.’
“She will hopefully improve further,” he said.
The other July entrant, Mike Azzie’s Chesalon, ran stone last and his prospects look dismal.
The ten horse field was led early by outsider National Key who showed the way ahead of Halve The Deficit and Chesalon, with Regal Stride and Cherry On The Top further back. Killua Castle was lobbing along at the back.
Akash Aucharuz rode a nice double for Woodruff
Turning into the home run, National Key came under pressure as Regal Stride was rushed around the wide outside to challenge for the lead.
Piere Strydom had been lurking two lengths off and he brought Halve The Deficit forward at the 400m as the Tarry galloper took what looked to be a decisive advantage.
At the 300m Killua Castle had drawn alongside after making up many lengths in the straight and it turned into a dogfight between these two.
In the final strides the result hung in the balance but national log leading apprentice Akash Aucharuz rode a cracker and he nabbed Strydom where it counted most.
The photo showed that the 8 to 1 Killua Castle had won by a short head in a time of 110,95 secs. The 22 to 10 favourite Cherry On The Top ran third.
Aucharuz, who gets plenty of chances from the Woodruff yard, was over the moon.
“I was always confident and I have been working him, so I have gotten to know him. He came out quite slowly and I let him settle and make his own way.”
Aucharuz registered a winning double when he scored in the final race of the day on Sisters Of Mercy for Geoff Woodruff and again upstaged Gavin Lerena on the lesser fancied stablemate.
Geoff Woodruff’s good form continues
Assistant trainer Timothy Woodruff confirmed that the yard had been aiming Killua Castle at this race.
“He is not an easy horse. If he is not ducking from the stick then he is not jumping. We are thinking of the Champions Cup on Super Saturday for him now. That will suit him nicely. His win today was really good. It impressed the way he fought on,” he said happily.
Killua Castle has won 4 races with 12 places from 24 starts and R1 036 925 in stakes.
He was bred in Australia by Blue Gum Farm and was purchased by Paul Guy’s Heritage Bloodstock for A$50,000 at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
He was signed for by the Devachanders for R100 000 on the 2011 Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale, where he was consigned as lot 127 by Summerhill Sales.
He is by Danehill stallion Churchill Downs out of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare, Prayers ‘N Promises.
