New owner Sid Moodley’s purple patch and associated rejuvenation of the vastly experienced Frank Robinson’s Summerveld yard continued at the weather-delayed Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting on Monday.
The combination enjoyed a double, which included the smart Mexican Pete maintaining his perfect record with a workmanlike victory in the R90 000 Foresight Model Man Mile.
With bigger fish to fry at Turffontein on Saturday, when their unbeaten Sovereign State faces the likes of Main Defender and Sandringham Summit in the Betway Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes, the Monday double would have been a terrific confidence-booster.
Mexican Pete (Muzi Yeni) keeps his unbeaten record intact with a courageous victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Starting a 6-10 favourite in the non black-type feature, Mexican Pete built on his two polytrack victories and showed his class on the turf, when upping his game late and then drawing past the 16-1 shot Last One Standing to 0,90 lengths in a time of 99,19 secs.
The win saw Stone Stamcor-sponsored Muzi Yeni draw level with Richard Fourie at the top of the national log, and the Gauteng jockey drew ahead after winning the last on Master Josh.
Concerned that his charge may find the mile on the short side – the ground may have played into Mexican Pete’s hands – trainer Frank Robinson indicated a possible tilt at the Dingaans with a horse he considers Derby material.
Enjoy the replay here:
An astute R80 000 buy from the 2022 BSA November 2yo Sale, the Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud-bred Mexican Pete is a son of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) out of the Gitano Hernando mare La Gitanila, who won twice from 1200m to 1600m.
The dam is a half-sister to Gr 3 Cape Fillies Nursery winner Hot Affair and to the useful Kannemeyer five-time-winning Master Of My Fate gelding Mr Master Starter.
A winner of 3 from 3, Mexican Pete took his stakes earnings to R181 250.
Earlier in the afternoon, maiden winner Master Of The Turf (another Hemel ‘n Aarde-bred son of Master Of My Fate) gave the Moodley-Robinson combination the first leg of a double. Serino Moodley rode that winner.
Racing returns to Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.
