After a dull run of form in KZN, the past Track & Ball Derby winner Marchingontogether appears to have found a new lease on life with the wily St John Gray at Randjesfontein.
The 6yo son of Pathfork made it two wins from his last four starts in Gauteng when he stayed on best off a modest gallop to win the R150 000 Listed Racing Association Stayers to bring the curtain down on the weather-impacted WSB Summer Cup day feature programme at Turffontein on Tuesday.
Gavin Lerena drives Marchingontogether to victory (Pic – JC Photos)
Trying the 3200m for the first time, and with concerns he wouldn’t have the legs to go all the way, Gavin Lerena rode a cracker of a well-judged race.
Coming forward about 350m out, Marchingontogether (4-1) always had the measure of the handily weighted Barak (8-1) down his outside and went on to beat the De Kock charge by 0,75 lengths in a time of 214,67 secs.
The tote favourite Super Handsome (4-1) never threatened to finish a further 1,75 lengths back in third.
Jockey Warren Kennedy was dislodged from Smoking Hot at the pull-up.
Bred by Jagessar Limited, Marchingontogether has now won 8 races with 11 places from 37 starts for earnings of R942 275.
He is by the supremely versatile Sandown Stud-based Irish Champion Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the Varsfontein imported Montjeu mare, Souen.
The Pick 6 pool fell short of the projected R12 million – eventually reaching just over R11,1 million.
The exotic dividend paid a healthy R641 927.
OFFICIAL RESULT:
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | ||||
| 1ST | 3 | MARCHINGONTOGETHER | S J Gray | G Lerena | —– | 33/10 | |
| 2ND | 10 | BARAK | M F de Kock | K Matsunyane | 0,75 | 0,75 | 8/1 |
| 3RD | 9 | SUPER HANDSOME | R R Sage | M Yeni | 1,75 | 2,50 | 4/1 |
| 4TH | 7 | CAPTAIN CHORUS | M N Houdalakis | C Maujean | 1,50 | 4,00 | 25/2 |
| 5TH | 6 | SMOKING HOT | C Dawson | W Kennedy | 1,50 | 5,50 | 4/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 214.67 s | |||||||
| Tote Fav | 9 | SUPER HANDSOME | R R Sage | M Yeni | 2,50 | 4/1 | |
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