Living legend Michael Roberts enjoyed a memorable day at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday on the occasion of Gold Circle’s annual tribute raceday to the greatest jockey produced in this country.
Besides saddling the winners of the first two races on the card, the second of which is raced by his daughters, his protégé Rachel Venniker rode a second career treble.
No disrespect to Peter Muscutt and the owners of the Listed Michael Roberts Stakes winner Gentleman’s Wager, but the real emotion happened earlier on in the day when the super-talented Rachel Venniker bounced back from a blank scorecard the previous weekend at her first taste of the heady L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Festival, to show her skills, partnering the first three winners on the card.
Rachel Venniker steers Snow Tune to victory for the Roberts daughters (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Michael Roberts saddled an opening double, including Snow Tune who races in a partnership of his daughters, Carolyn and Melanie – the latter watched the race from the UK.
The daughter of Noble Tune clearly enjoyed the step up in trip and came home powerfully to win in the famous Queen Mum silks.
Carolyn Roberts was on course to support Dad and recalled how as a young child in 1986 she stood only metres from the Queen Mum at Sandown Racecourse. So a sentimental twist to a great day.
Watch the happy race and interview:
Rachel Venniker added the cherry to the cake when bringing home her second winner for the Sugar Hill master Doug Campbell in a week when Siege Of Orleans won the third. It was the 20 year old rising star’s second treble in her short but impressive career.
Gentleman’s Wager caused the upset in the Listed Michael Roberts Stakes when Tristan Godden kept the son of Oratorio galloping to hold off a strong late challenge from Dean Kannemeyer’s Sir Michael.
Tristan Godden keeps Gentleman’s Wager at his task as Sir Michael sticks his head into the frame (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The win margin was 0,70 lengths and the time for the 1750m was 108,61 secs.
The 7yo gelding has been a real soldier, having won 9 races with 12 places from his 33 starts for stakes of close on R540 000.
Bred by the Wernars and Devachanders, the gelding has a real ‘Avontuur’ pedigree – being a son of the top Cape farm’s Danehill stallion Oratorio out of the terrific six-time winning VAR mare Princess Of Light. Interestingly, both mother and son have won at 2600m!
