A Betway Summer Cup entry, Frank Robinson’s DStv Gr3 Gold Vase winner Madison Valley got the upper-hand in an incident filled R120 000 PinkDrive Michaelmas Handicap at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday to stamp his well-being and big race claims.
Downgraded from listed status last year, the non black-type Michaelmas Handicap was the headline event on the excellent good cause PinkDrive raceday, and provided a grandstand finish, despite only four contestants jumping from the 1900m.
Gavin Lerena has Madison Valley in charge as subsequently relegated Natyam (Craig Zackey) and promoted objector Cape Eagle (Serino Moodley) chase hard (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
After the scratchings of Golden Peace and the eventual winner’s stablemate Mexican Pete, Rachel Venniker was dislodged from Trois Trois Quarte in the pre-race, and the De Kock gelding was withdrawn after bolting.
After Officer In Command led Cape Eagle, Natyam and Madison Valley early, the in-form Gavin Lerena made a bold round the field move just before they turned for home, and the astute initiative proved a winning one – despite a few incidents down the home straight.
Just when Natyam and Craig Zackey looked to have moved in for the kill at the 300m, the Gareth van Zyl-trained gelding crossed Serino Moodley and Cape Eagle, who looked to be full of running at that stage.
Natyam and Zackey then leant on Madison Valley, before a determined Lerena found some extra from Madison Valley.
At the line Madison Valley (5-1) clocked 118,81 secs for the 1900m and won by a quarter length.
The runner-up and tote favourite Natyam (13-10) was subsequently relegated to third after an objection by jockey Serino Moodley. Cape Eagle (3-1) was promoted to second.
Trainer Frank Robinson was pleased with Lerena’s ride and said he had mentioned to the top jockey that Madison Valley is a stayer, ‘so if they crawl, get going a bit early’.
A R220 000 BSA November 2yo Sale graduate, Madison Valley was bred by Clifton Stud and is a 3yo son of deceased Kingmambo stallion Mambo In Seattle out of the five-time winning Al Mufti mare Valdovino, who raced for Verna Roberts.
Madison Valley has won 4 races from his 14 starts with 4 places and stakes of R464 000.
While the villain of the peace in the feature, the talented Craig Zackey was the most successful jockey on the day with 3 winners, while Gavin Lerena grabbed the final two races on the card.
One player in the popular Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge, Dineo Vukeya found the first seven winners on the card, but sadly fell at the final hurdle when his selection Grape Shot went missing. He would have won R710 000 – and R1 420 000 had he wagered the minimum R50 on the programatically generated betslip!
There is always another chance and after Fairview on Tuesday, the next KZN racemeeting is at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack on Wednesday. The first is off at 12h35.
