Just a month after winning the HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes up at Turffontein, the well-travelled and improved Trip Of Fortune produced a top-class effort to win the R500 000 Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Six years after she saddled the high-class subsequent Durban July winner Marinaresco to win the Drill Hall Stakes, Candice was back in the winner’s enclosure of the traditional season launch-pad.
It has been a terrific few days for the Milnerton team, with another Drakenstein home-bred in the smart Winter Cloud bolting home on 30 April in the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Clearly a horse who continues to up his game, Trip Of Fortune was allowed to start at 7-1 as he took off from some way off to grab the leader Seeking The Stars, who had set a blistering early pace.
In a rush to the line, Trip Of Fortune held off a gallant late challenge from the widely drawn Gimme A Prince (5-1) to beat the Kannemeyer star by 0,75 lengths in a time of 82,89 secs.
Aldo Domeyer and Trip Of Fortune are clear of Gimme A Prince (Keagan de Melo) in a great finish (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana (25-2) flew up late for third a further 0,15 lengths behind, with the tote favourite Desert Miracle (28-10) well beaten into fourth.
A fancied Hollywoodbets Durban July entrant, Safe Passage was always well back and never improved from last. We will report on any feedback.
“He has taken a step up since being gelded and he even feels like he has matured since his Gr1 win in Johannesburg. We didn’t have the best of draws, but he settled and I was only confident when we hit the line as we had some decent horses chasing,” said a delighted Aldo Domeyer.
Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson is enjoying a purple patch and saddled Marinaresco early in her career to win the 2017 renewal of this race.
“Trip Of Fortune had a long season in the Cape and travelled to Joburg before only coming down to Durban recently. He takes everything in his stride. He really has turned into a smart horse. He has won two Gr2’s and a Gr3 this season. To the Drakenstein team, many thanks and appreciation and what a season we have enjoyed,” she added.
Kevin Sommerville said it was a privilege to win a race of this calibre as it had been won by so many good horses in the past.
“Thanks to the team and to Gaynor (Rupert). She watches all the races and she would have shouted Trip Of Fortune home,” he said.
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A son of End Sweep stallion Trippi, Trip Of Fortune is out of the versatile ten-time winning Doowaley mare, Louvre. He is bred and owned by Drakenstein, and is registered as a R750 000 National Yearling Sale graduate.
Trip Of Fortune has now won 9 races with 4 places from 17 starts for stakes of R1 862 750.
The R1 750 000 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge on 10 June looks likely to be Trip Of Fortune’s next start.
