A finely judged front-running ride by Sporting Post-sponsored Athandiwe Mgdulwa was the dealmaker as the longshot lightweight Sea Master went all the way to secure his first graded stakes success in the R200 000 Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
A winner of the 2022 Listed Michaelmas Handicap, the Gareth van Zyl-trained Sea Master, a genuine stayer, was guided to lead from his wide draw and made all under his handy galloping weight of 52kgs.
Inside the final 300m the challenges were coming from all sides, and it was two of the four Hollywoodbets Durban July entries in the thirteen horse field who gave Athandiwe Mgudlwa and the 5yo gelding most to think about.
Athandiwe Mgudlwa keeps Sea Master at his game to win a cracker (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
But confidence and determination are powerful weapons, and the pacemaker held his way all the way to the wire at 33-1 to beat July entry Raiseahallelujah (33-1) by 0,30 lengths in a time of 152,94 secs.
Fellow Hollywoodbets Durban July hopeful and SA Derby winner Aragosta showed a welcome return to form running into third at 10-1.
Tyrone Zackey’s Gauteng raider Otto Luyken (16-1) ran a cracker for a length fourth off the gallant winner.
Favourite and another Durban July entry, Future Pearl was beaten under two lengths back in sixth.
All the talk was about One Way Traffic (9-4), who ran eighth and was beaten 2,15 lengths.
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Bred by Varsfontein, Sea Master is a R175 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and is by Jet Master stallion Master Of My Fate out of the multiple winner producing Spectrum mare, Subyan Dreams (GB).
Raced by Laura De Haast, Sea Master has won 7 races with 10 places from 28 starts for stakes of R600 750.
The carry forward Pick 6 passed muster, reaching a pool of R6,7 million.
