One of seven Snaith Racing Vodacom Durban July entries, the 4yo Silver Host finished best of all to win the R150 000 Gr3 Track & Ball Derby at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
There have been suggestions that the Justin Snaith string have endured a quieter SA Champions Season than we have been accustomed to in years past.
But Silver Host’s feature success on Saturday followed the victory by Crown Towers in the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial seven days earlier. And Snaith also enjoyed an impressive performance by Captain’s Ransom to win the WSB Gr2 Fillies Guineas in May.
Snaith announced some weeks ago that his horses would peak on 3 July – so this could be the proverbial calm before the storm!
Richard Fourie steers Silver Host to a smart win (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Recently labelled by the Cape champions as a ‘dark horse’ for the Durban July, the now treble Gr3 winning Silver Host annexed the unique-to-KZN ‘open’ Derby in the manner of a decent stayer under his joint topweight to wrap up his prep for whatever race he lines up in on 3 July.
He also holds an entry in the July consolation, the Gr3 Hollywoodbets 2200.
Having his first run in the KZN Capital City, Silver Host was relaxed in midfield by regular pilot Richard Fourie as Share Holder and Merlin From Berlin scrapped over the lead.
In the run for home Fourie opted for a traffic-free route up the middle outside.
Despite lugging in marginally, Silver Host (2-1) powered on relentlessly to beat a sterling late challenge from Kum Naidoo longshot Dream Destiny (40-1) under Thabiso Gumede to win by 0,70 lengths in a time of 150,69 secs.
The Gauteng raider and favourite Pamushana’s Pride was a further 1,90 lengths back in third.
Silver Host is a son of retired multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the French Deputy mare Hosta – a US-bred half sister to Gr1 winner Colstar (Opening Verse).
Bred by Drakenstein, and raced in partnership by the top breeders with Nic Jonsson and the Estate of the late Jack Mitchell, Silver Host was a R2,6 million National Yearling Sale graduate.
He has won 5 races with 5 places from his 15 starts for stakes of R481 200.
The Vodacom Durban July final declarations are due on Monday. The final field will be announced on Tuesday.
Watch the race replay here:
