A horse who took ten runs to find his maiden victory, the Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty gelding Navy Strength maintained his recent upward curve and showed an appreciation for the stamina test to win the R225 000 Drakenstein Stud Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
With trainer Justin Snaith celebrating his 48th birthday and both owners Greg Bortz and Nancy Hossack on course with their entourages, the pressure was on and the progressive Kabelo Matsunyane delivered the goods as Navy Strength (17-2) turned on the jets up the outside and cut down the leaders to beat the longshot Master Redoute (25-1) by a half length in a time of 158,06 secs.
Kabelo Matsunyane salutes on his return on Navy Strength (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
In a Place Accumulator knockout, Arctic Drift (16-1) rattled from the clouds to grab third, a further three quarters back in third.
The tote favourite and dtsbalemate to the winner Thefutureisbright (4-1) faded late along with the other early leaders.
An R800 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Navy Strength is clearly maturing and enjoying the stamina tests. He has now won 3 races with 7 places from 16 starts for stakes of R333 375.
A son of the outstanding Dynasty (Fort Wood), he is out of the high-class Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Spring Lilac (Joshua Dancer) – a half-sister to Equus Champions Bela-Bela and the ill-fated Rabiya.
The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth carryover Pick 6 pool on Saturday reached just over R2,8 million – something of a shortfall against the projected R4 million.
Watch the replay here:
