A multiple KZN Champion trainer, Ashburton-based Duncan Howells has endured a dry run of some proportions and probably couldn’t be blamed for having forgotten where the stakes winner’s enclosure is. But the fortunes of the veteran horseman changed for the brighter in just over 97 seconds at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
“This was a pleasing and important win for the yard. To be frank, I wasn’t confident of winning it but felt that the rain during the week helped and it all came together nicely as planned. It feels like we have won the Vodacom Durban July,” laughed Howells after Trip To Africa had bounded to victory in the Listed Kings Cup.
Howells said that things had been very rough but that they were boxing on.
With visiting trainer Vaughan Marshall opening his KZN season account earlier in the day courtesy of Captain Of Stealth, the first signs of the forthcoming SA Champions Season are in the air and Justin Snaith was also in the feature mix, saddling Myhopesanddreams.
Thabiso Gumede steers Trip To Africa to victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
But all the support in the R100 000 Listed Kings Cup was for Marshall’s recently gelded Silver Operator, fresh off an unplaced run in the Cape Town Met.
And it was not to be a fairytale start for Marshall as, much like his PE-based cousin Gavin Smith in the East Cape Guineas on Friday, Duncan Howells wasn’t to be intimidated by the big name Cape raiders and led the hometown charge to register an all KZN feature trifecta.
Under a handy galloping weight, and with his regular pilot, the Candiese Lenferna Photography -sponsored Apprentice Thabiso Gumede aboard, Trip To Africa tracked Ashton Arries and News Stream all the way round.
At the 300m the gelding with the ungainly racing style picked it up and went on powerful to beat the well-backed Tristful (8-1) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 97,7 secs.
The pacesetting News Stream (16-1) ran a game race to stay on for third, just under a length back, and round off the hometown trifecta.
Hollywoodbets – sponsored trainer Duncan Howells confirmed that Trip To Africa was not the easiest of rides but Thabiso (Gumede) knows him well.
“He had his issues as a young horse but he has grown into his frame. And thanks to my patient owners,” he said.
A memorable moment for Apprentice Thabiso Gumede (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Gumede, who grew up close to Summerveld and the SA Jockey Academy at Shongweni and credits his Uncle, a former SAJA Security Guard, with having introduced him to racing and a career as a jockey, was celebrating his first stakes victory – his 42nd overall.
Bred by Ridgemont-Highlands, Trip To Africa is a son of Trippi (End Sweep) out of the twice-winning Horse Chestnut mare, African Lily.
A R700 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Trip To Africa was recording his first stakes success and took his stats to 5 wins and 3 places from 14 starts. His stakes total is R309 000.
