There was little festive cheer for punters on a forgettable 2017 Boxing Day at Greyville on Tuesday. One bomb result followed the next, although the Australian-bred 3yo Roy Had Enough was not winning the R250 000 Listed Christmas Handicap entirely out of turn.
Lyle Hewitson enjoys an armchair experience on Roy Had Enough (Pic – Candiese Marnewick / Gold Circle)
With only a percentage of the R2,1 million Pick 6 being won, there was little to cheer about – although Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson and owner Roy Moodley may be excited that the Pierro colt they though good enough to travel to Joburg for an unsuccessful tilt at the Dingaans, could well have some scope to go on and win his races.
Everything else seems to be downgraded these days and the Christmas Handicap followed suit with its newly allocated Listed status attracting a quality field of fourteen – with two Gauteng challengers adding interest.
With little pace early on, it was not surprising to find the versatile Redcarpet Captain bringing his field for home, with eventual winner Roy Had Enough last of the bunch.
Into the straight, the in-form Lyle Hewitson pushed Roy Had Enough on to the rail as a massive gap opened.
Lyle Hewitson – top class riding
With Redcarpet Captain going on doggedly and Wild Wicket looking dangerous, it was the well supported 15-2 shot Roy Had Enough who powered up the rail to hold off the late-finishing Legend in a time of 95,94 secs.
This was the young Avontuur-sponsored Lyle Hewitson’s 61st winner of the term and he holds a commendable second place on the national jockey log as the sun sets on a long year.
The topweight Redcarpet Captain was always in the firing line and hung on for third ahead of the runner-up’s stablemate Wild Wicket.
Johannesburg challenger Doosra ran stone last in a disappointing effort.
Winning trainer Frank Robinson
Roy Had Enough has won 3 races with 5 places from his 11 starts for stakes of R338 625.
The colt was a A$95,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Element Hill draft for World Wide Bloodstock and is the first winner for Queens Plaza (Elusive Quality), an unraced daughter of dual Gr1 winner and Australian Oaks queen Danendri.
His Coolmore sire Pierro (Lonhro) beat All Too Hard to clinch the Australian first-season sire championship in July.
On the track, Pierro won 11 of his 14 starts, sweeping the Sydney juvenile Gr1 grand slam of the Golden Slipper-Sires’ Produce-Champagne Stakes, and defeating his elders in two Gr1’s at three before retiring with earnings of A$4,536,650.
When Roy Had Enough won his maiden in July, he became his sire’s first winner on African soil. He could pay to follow.
