The Glen Kotzen stable has been fighting a lingering virus which has seen many of their runners recently being withdrawn prior to race days, but Holding Thumbs was given the green light to stand his ground in the R225 000 World Sports Betting Listed Cape Summer Stayers Handicap and under a determined ride by Sean Veale, the 4yo son of Vercingetorix brought some relief to the Woodhill Team.
Holding Thumbs (Sean Veale) stays on the winning path! Call To Unite (Grant van Niekerk, pink cap) and Royal Invitation (Anthony Andrews) can be seen in the background (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Racing in the colours of Gary Player on behalf of a partnership, Holding Thumbs appeared to have the race safely wrapped up at the 200m pole, but Greg Ennion’s consistent 5yo mare Love Is A Rose kept plugging away and was only a neck in arrears at the line.
The leading duo finished well clear of the Snaith pair of Navy Strength and Call To Unite, with the latter finding little for pressure after making all the early running.
Holding Thumbs, who was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein out of the Fort Wood mare Withbatedbreath, has now won five of his fourteen starts, with earnings in excess of R400 000, and there may be more to come now that he has been stepped up in trip.
