A visitor these days in his former home province, Milnerton master Vaughan Marshall got his 2022 SA Champions Season campaign off on a winning note when Richard Fourie rode a cracker to get Silver Operator home in a 1-2 for Klawervlei Stud in the R400 000 Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes.
A traditional launch-pad for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, the 1400m feature was run at a solid gallop as expected, with Dean Kannemeyer’s runner-up Russian Rock doing best of the July entry trio that included Jet Dark and Linebacker.
Richard Fourie and Silver Operator are led in by Jenny Jones, Vaughan Marshall, and Jane & Ken Truter (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
But the trophy and the moment belong to the 5yo Silver Operator (6-1), a winner of the Listed Jet Master Stakes on Cape Derby day, who showed the benefit of a recent run under the belt, when he bounced forward down the inside under a superb left-handed ride from the top-class Fourie to hold off Russian Rock (8-1) by a neck in a thriller.
The winner clocked 82,41 secs for the 1400m.
Paul Peter’s Smorgasboard (6-1) was always in the firing line and stayed on well for third a further two lengths back.
The tote favourite Captain Fontane moved up late but had nothing to come and finished downfield.
Drawn wide, Jet Dark was lagging behind and stayed on for 4,65 lengths behind, with Linebacker 6,45 lengths back.
Silver Operator was purchased off the 2018 Cape Thoroughbred Sales April Yearling Sale for R700 000.
Bred by Klawervlei Stud, the winner is a son of deceased multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the thrice-winning Captain Al mare, Sting Operation.
A winner of 6 races with 7 places from 21 starts, Silver Operator has banked R760 950.
So the SA Champions Season is underway!
Watch the replay here:
