Legendary South African champion jockey Michael Roberts received his annual accolade from KZN Racing Operator Gold Circle at the behind-closed-doors Hollywoodbets Scottsville racemeeting on Sunday.
And in an appropriate result, it was Roberts’ Summerveld neighbour Mark Dixon who saddled the winner of the R85 000 Listed Michael Roberts Handicap.
Being sentimental, celebratory and hospitable in the ghostly environment of a mostly deserted racecourse on a sleep Sunday in Pietermaritzburg is no easy task. but full marks to the on-course team for keeping the ‘Muis memories’ ticking over through a nine race card that produced some curved-ball results – and none less so than in the feature.
Ashton Arries drives News Stream to a smooth victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“I frankly wasn’t sure if he was good enough to win this but he is consistent and it’s a pleasant surprise,” said Mark Dixon after Ashton Arries maintained his own good form, when producing the 8-1 News Stream from three lengths off the gallop.
After Trip To Africa and the Met entry and favourite Baby Shooz had cried enough, New Stream got the better of the equally consistent Mr Fitz to win by 0,75 lengths in a time of 106,61 secs.
The lesser fancied of the Gavin van Zyl pair, Marchingontogether (12-1) stormed through late for third.
Baby Shooz was beaten 3,10 lengths with every chance and he looks unlikely to go to the Cape for the Met on this form.
News Stream’s big win was an emotional success for the Carlisle family’s Kinmount Syndicate after the passing of patriarch Avison Carlisle in August last year.
A R15 000 Bloodstock South Africa 2017 KZN Yearling Sale graduate, News Stream has won 5 races with 9 places from 19 starts for stakes earnings of in excess of R380 000.
Bred by Kinmount Stud, the winner is a son of Middlefield’s Peintre Celebre stallion Byword, the winner is out of the one-time winning Grey Eminence mare, Pricilla Grey.
The Juddmonte-bred Byword is out of Britain’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2010, Binche (USA), a daughter of Woodman, and was a winner at age 4 of the Gr1 Prince Of Wales’ Stakes, the Gr 2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud and the Gr 2 Prix Jacques Laffitte.
