The buoyant team of Adam Marcus and Grant Van Niekerk continued their healthy strike rate as Hampstead Heath ran out a comfortable and popular winner of the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday.
Gulf Racing Club stalwart Petrus du Toit and trainer Adam Marcus lead Hampstead Heath (Grant van Niekerk) in after her smart win yesterday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Graeme Hawkins writes that Kamchatka (3/1) retained her position at the top of the betting boards, but Hampstead Heath shortened from 5/1 to 33/10 and proved far too good for the favourite, forging ahead over the last 200m to win with more than a length to spare.
Enchanting Choice finished the race off well from some way back turning for home and only just failed to snare Kamchatka for the runner-up berth. Omikami rounded off the Quartet and is certainly one for the notebook.
The daughter of Global View was hampered leaving the starting gates and was a lot further back than Richard Fourie would have wanted, but she was gaining quickly at the line and with only three runs under the belt, there is plenty more to come with added racing experience.
Andre Nel and Corne Orffer may have been a trifle disappointed that Kamchatka came up second best, but the combination were on the mark in the previous race when Lavender Bay ran out a pillar-to-post winner of the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1600m.
Orffer took no prisoners leaving the gates and Lavender Bay (7/2) was four lengths clear turning into the home stretch. The 4yo daughter of Twice Over kept on resolutely into a strong Southeasterly headwind and try as she might, Diamond Bomber (9/4f) was unable to bridge the gap.
Orffer was also seen to good advantage in the second race, a Cape D Stakes over 1000m, when sitting quietly and holding Casino Ace (33/10) together in the closing stages to thwart the late effort from Mrs Shackleton by half-a-length.
What A Fortune (3/1) looked one of the better bets on the card and he duly delivered in the sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1400m, to win readily under Aldo Domeyer for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson. The favourite Unsolved Riddle had every chance but faded tamely over the final 200m and it was left to Solartrip (7/1) and Naushon (12/1) to chase What A Fortune home.
Senhora Victoria (11/10) ended a 616-day absence from the winner’s circle, scoring a workmanlike victory over Tres Chic (11/2) in the seventh race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m, under a driving ride from Richard Fourie. Although shifting about in the closing stages, the Eric Sands-trained 6yo daughter of Master Of My Fate dug down deep to land the odds.
Dawn Till Dusk (9/2) scored a thrilling last-to-first victory for owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m.
Ridden by JP van der Merwe for trainer Justin Snaith, the fast-improving 3yo son of Trippi relished the strong pace set by Firingonallengines and showed an impressive turn of foot to gun down Air Raid (11/2) who looked the likely winner approaching the last 200m.
