There is nothing like a hometown victory to boost the morale of the often shell-shocked locals during the SA Champions Season.
Summerveld conditioner Frank Robinson produced the goods with a hard fought maiden stakes win for the Australian-bred Roy’s Riviera in the R150 000 Listed East Coast Cup at Greyville on Saturday.
Vinery stallion All Too Hard, a half-brother to superstar Black Caviar, has proven increasingly popular in South Africa for those who can afford to part with the Aussie Dollars and Roy’s Riviera’s victory followed hard on the heels of another of her sire’s progeny a fortnight ago, when Frosted Gold won the SA Nursery for Mike de Kock.
Bernard Fayd’herbe drives Roy’s Riviera to victory with runner-up Perfect Air obscured – and third placed Miyabi Gold (Richard Fourie in pink cap) in a thriller (Candiese Marnewick)
The Baramul Stud-bred Roy’s Riviera was in fact the first SA winner for her sire when shedding her maiden certificate in 2017 and looks full value for the A$70,000 paid at the 2016 Gold Coast Magic Millions by World Wide Bloodstock, who purchased her on behalf of owner Roy Moodley
A half-sister to the Strutt Stakes-LR winner Sebring Sally, she is out of the Anabaa mare, Donna Amata.
Relaxed early in the race off the pace set by Cape visitor Parabola by the bang in-form Bernard Fayd’herbe, the 4yo Roy’s Riviera produced a late rattle just when it seemed Samina’s Dynasty and Miyabi Gold would go on and fight it out.
The 2-1 favourite Miyabi Gold ran around her field into the straight and appeared to come under pressure as Perfect Air flew up to get second place behind Roy’s Riviera who clocked 124,05 secs and got the verdict by 0,60 lengths.
Sabina’s Dynasty faded late and ran fifth – a head behind Snapscan, who ran a cracker on her KZN debut.
Previously stakes placed, Roy’s Riviera has won 4 races with 10 places from 21 starts for stakes of R520 750.
