Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racecourse was the place to be on Sunday, with racegoers treated to some top-class finishes on a glorious afternoon.
One of the most exciting races of the day was the feature, the R500 000 Gr2 Cape Merchants, run over the straight 1200m.
Cosmic Highway (Craig Zackey) could be seen finishing full of running (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Gr2 contest saw a large field of 16 runners run into a strong headwind. The early leader was the flashy grey After The Rain.
He was closely followed by Surjay and King Regent with Countdown just off the speed. Quasiforsure was in midfield on the far rail.
Going through the 400m mark, the lightly weighted Countdown shot clear into what looked an unassailable lead over his closest challenger Surjay.
With the ‘race’ looking all but over, Cosmic Highway in the black and yellow silks of Khaya Stables could be seen finishing full of running, but it still looked unlikely that he would catch Countdown 100m out.
He literally ‘flew’ home over the final 50m to snare Countdown on the line.
Cosmic Highway (10/1) had finished so fast that the official margin was posted as 0.2 length from a gallant Countdown (25/2) in second.
Favourite Surjay (2/1) was a further half length behind in third, with another eye-catcher, the KZN raider Quasiforsure (5/1) only a neck away in fourth.
The winning time recorded was 71.37 seconds.
By Gimmethegreenlight, Cosmic Highway is a five-year-old gelding out of the Silvano mare Cosmic Dream.
A R400 000 purchase from Maine Chance, he is now a 5-time winner from 19 starts with earnings of R1 111 850.
Winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer was full of praise for owner Lady Laidlaw and his entire team at the post-race interview.
He stated that he was confident of a good run here after Cosmic Highway’s run behind Charles Dickens and stablemate Gimme A Prince in the Matchem Stakes in October.
A double on the day for the Kannemeyer yard and a fantastic four-timer for jockey Craig Zackey.
