A same stable upset in the second KZN 2yo race of the season, two very impressive maiden winners and some wide-awake Stipendiary Stewarding was the order of the day at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.
While the beautiful condition of the Hollywoodbets Scottsville track received praise from jockeys and trainers It wasn’t exactly a red-letter day for the local maintenance team.
South African racing has an issue of delayed starts and the second race went off 8 minutes late due to the track maintenance staff attending to the reconfiguration of the removable rail at the 600m.
Ideal Act was an impressive winner for the in-form Keagan de Melo (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Then in the sixth race, the Stipes reported that the front numbers on the starting gates were incorrect as the spare starting gate on the inside was allocated draw 1, rather than being left un-numbered.
This resulted in the horses visually loading one number higher than the allocated draw. The Stipes were satisfied that none of the runners were prejudiced by this ‘visual misrepresentation’.
The matter has been referred by the NHA to the starting team and Gold Circle maintenance team, both of which were advised to ensure there is not a similar occurrence moving forward.
The Sporting Post bemoaned and questioned the apparent absence of the use of the NHA’s Virtual Boardroom in our Billy Jacobson objection report on Monday.
We have since noted the Stipes team for the KZN meeting on Monday 6 December included Ricardo Sobotker as a Visual Boardroom official.
On Wednesday Andre Hoffmann was manning the Virtual Boardroom. So we may have jumped the gun – but on the flipside, the NHA haven’t informed the public that they are making use of the technology.
The opening race, a 2yo 800m scurry saw Mike Miller dominate matters again, but it wasn’t the result expected with stable companion Air Of Mystery (25-1) finishing too strongly under Khanya Sakayi for the more fancied Only Hearts (2-1) under Serino Moodley.
Watch the race:
The Maine Chance-bred daughter of William Longsword surprised her trainer, who said she had run above his expectations.
The late Peter Kannemeyer always warned about running fancied stablemate against each other – but the baby races aren’t exactly dime a dozen, so Mike takes his chances. He also saddled the fourth finisher Spring Fever.
Despite being slow away, Botz won the second race at his second start for Dennis Drier and Sean Veale.
Coming off a four month break, the charismatic Veale said he wasn’t too disappointed when the Klawervlei-bred son of William Longsword went missing at his debut run.
Watch the race:
“He had no luck in the Cape. And at his first run he went down to the start not knowing whether he was a girl or a boy. Gelding has done him good. He makes a bit of a breathing noise – so let’s see where he goes from here. Thanks to Mr Drier and the team – it’s going to be a good Christmas now!” said Veale.
The Dean Kannemeyer Racing Syndicate have a nice sort on their hands in the shape of the Gary Player Stud-bred Ideal Act, who toyed with his opponents to win the fourth race.
The son of Ideal World has improved with every run and won at his fourth outing like a horse who could follow up next time. Keagan de Melo was looking at the opposition through his own legs at the 200m.
Watch the race:
“I really liked him at the BSA National 2yo Sale. A good-looking, well-balanced colt with plenty of scope. His sire throws top horses and he comes from a top farm. He was a popular horse but I’m glad we stretched a bit to get him. I’m really pleased for our syndicate – it’s been rewarding and fun for the yard, and this is the way to get more people involved in the game,” added Kannemeyer who said that the legend Gary Player was also thrilled with the win.
Keagan de Melo rode three winners on the day to take his tally to six winners over the last two KZN meetings and 43 in total this term. He is at 7th on the national jockey log.
The next KZN racemeeting is at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening when the ever popular night racing returns!
