He could be a possible Cape Winter Series candidate on this showing!
Karl Zechner produces Kimberley Star on the outside but too late to catch Sabbatical (Grant van Niekerk). The runner-up What A Player is obscured (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
Grant van Niekerk and Justin Snaith teamed up at Fairview on Good Friday to win the R150 000 Listed East Cape Guineas in thrilling fashion with the fast-improving Silvano gelding Sabbatical flying late to grab victory from the jaws of certain defeat.
After Callan Murray had given his field the slip on the What A Winter filly What A Player at the 200m marker it looked to be race over as the Greeff filly stayed on powerfully.
But out of the blue, Grant van Niekerk had his head down and with Sabbatical taking off late with Kimberley Star, only a neck seperated the top three.
Described by racecaller Alistair Cohen as having shown himself to possess a ‘bionic neck’, Sabbatical changed legs twice inside the last 100m to gain an unlikely victory – with a determined stretch of the neck!
The official margin was a head in a time of 100,25 secs.
Grant van Niekerk – determination!
What A Player has done nothing wrong since winning her maiden and was so gallant – even unlucky – in defeat.
Her stablemate Kimberley Star, under substitute rider Karl Zechner, flew late for third.
Alan Greeff trained all the placed runners, with the favourite Queen Forever, failing to find top gear against the boys and relegated to fourth.
Owned by Fred Crabbia, Sabbatical was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein and is a son of champion sire Silvano (Lomitas) out of the four-time winner, Gap Year (Rich Man’s Gold).
A R550 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, he has won 3 races with 1 place from 9 starts for stakes of R204 750.
Sabbatical also banked the BSA Added Value Bonus of R77 500.
