Trainer Chesney van Zyl will be relocating from Gauteng to Summerveld and celebrated a smart feature winner when the Pathfork colt Marchingontogether bounced back from an indifferent Gauteng Guineas effort to win the R130 000 umThombothi Stakes at a sweltering Scottsville on Wednesday.
The meeting originally scheduled for Sunday 17 February went off without a hitch with on-course Vet Manfred Rohwer and Farrier Shaun Leslie and helpers hosing down the horses throughout the afternoon.
Warren Kennedy steers Marchingontogether to an easy victory (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
The non black-type umThombothi Stakes was run over the 1950m inside track and headed the eight-race programme. The going was changed to good during the afternoon as the track baked in the blazing sunshine.
Warren Kennedy, who rode Nafaayes to victory in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas earlier this month is riding with great confidence and he booted home two Van Zyl winners on the afternoon – the opener on the Mogol first-timer Wave for Gavin van Zyl and the feature aboard the favourite Marchingontogether for Chesney van Zyl.
Possibly finding the Gauteng Guineas at his last start a bridge too far at this stage of his career, the son of Pathfork was given a confident ride by Kennedy who had him parked in midfield as Affranchi and Duke Of Spin led the gallop.
Into the home run Kennedy moved Marchingontogether through his field and the promising colt powered home to hold Blackball by 0,75 lengths with in a time of 120,60 secs. The good filly Flichity By Farr stayed on for third a further 2,60 lengths back with Duke Of Spin rounding off the quartet.
Bred by Jagessar Limited, the R80 000 National Yearling Sale graduate has won 3 races with 4 places from 9 starts for stakes of R264 525.
Marchingontogether is a son of Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the unraced Montjeu mare Souen (IRE) – a half sister to UK Gr2 winner, Curtain Call.
He was named after the Leeds United fan song.
A half hour later at Turffontein, Pathfork was back amongst the winners when his Gr1 winning daughter Mighty High slammed a mixed sex field to score her 4th from 6 starts.
Anton Marcus and Brandon Lerena shared riding honours with Warren Kennedy on the hot afternoon.
