Our charismatic Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Sean Veale capped a double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with an inspired tactical ride to win the R185 000 Paarl Diamant A Stakes on the progressive 4yo Holding Thumbs, who could yet harbour hopes of lining up in the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Sean Veale has Holding Thumbs in control as Chase Bantam tries to extricate more out of Call To Unit (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The top-liner on the ten-race card, the 2000m contest always looked to lack pace with the field reduced to just seven runners after the withdrawal of Otto Luyken and The Futurist.
Enjoying his best season in 20 years, recently contracted Hollywood Racing rider Sean Veale took the initiative to dictate on the 2024 World Sports Betting Listed Cape Summer Stayers Handicap winner Holding Thumbs, who looks a few lengths sharper in the blinkers.
After giving the gelding a breather round the turn, Veale cleverly gave his six rivals the slip at the top of the straight and enjoying the 54kgs on his back, Holding Thumbs (33-20) delivered the goods as he stayed on effortlessly to beat Call To Unite (7-1) by 1,75 lengths in a published time of 120,05 secs for the summer course 2000m – which is obviously incorrect and is being investigated.
Sean Tarry will be pleased with a better run from his accomplished 8yo Nebraas (14-1) who was a head back in third.
Woodhill Racing boss Glen Kotzen has had a rollercoaster season between bad bloods and a Grade 1 winner, but is aiming high with Holding Thumbs, who he suggested may come into the Hollywoodbets Durban July with bottom weight, and may even be a Gold Cup horse.
“He is only now growing into his frame. He is a big horse and his massive frame means he gets claustrophobic in the pens. Thanks to the owners who had no issue with us pulling him out last time. We will still have plenty of fun with him,” added the eternally optimistic and competitive horseman.
It’s been a good day at the office for Sean Veale (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Sean Veale was full of bounce and said that he told the team he would win the Gold Vase and Gold Cup on the gelding.
The Doyles were out from Ireland to lead their winner in.
Holding Thumbs races for a partnership in the famous Gary Player silks.
The Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein gelding is a son of high-riding Maine Chance Farms resident Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the three-time winning Fort Wood mare Withbatedbreath.
A R1 million National 2yo Sale purchase, Holding Thumbs took his stakes earnings to R611 188 with his sixth victory and 3 places from his 16 starts.
Sean Veale earlier booted home the beautifully bred One World colt Dreamworld home for Vaughan Marshall on debut in the second.
