Next stop the Vodacom Durban July!
That seems to be the planned next step for Mike de Kock’s top-class 3yo Hawwaam after a workmanlike no-frills victory in Saturday’s R2 million Gr1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville.
A 9,75 length aggregate winner of his last two Gr1 starts, Hawwaam went through the motions off a moderate early pace in the seven horse field at his KZN debut start.
Anton Marcus steers Hawwaam to a no-frills victory (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Taking up the running at the top of the home run he stayed on, drifting from the outside to the inside of the track, and duly disposed of his anticipated major rival, the very accomplished Twist Of Fate, without raising too much of a fuss or a sweat.
The son of Silvano did not parade as he went straight from the chute to the start with a pony and looked on his toes and in fine fettle after his Joburg road trip.
With local hope Thanksgiving duffing his start, Hawwaam jumped relaxed as he cruised in fourth behind Twist Of Fate, Zillzaal and Capoeira. Hawwaam’s stablemate and anticipated pacemaker Atyaab seemed to lack the toe to get to the lead.
Lyle Hewitson showed his lack of appreciation for the dictatorial gallop being set by S’manga Khumalo on the recent KRA Guineas winner and he took Zillzaal up to show the way at the 1000m.
Into the home run, Marcus flicked Hawwaam down the neck and he moved ahead.
Anton Marcus – confident ride (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Drifting towards the inside rail he kept on well and unpressured to hold off the attentions of Twist Of Fate by 1,60 lengths in a time of 123,30 secs. Silvano’s Pride won the fillies equivalent in 122,30 secs.
Third-placed Capoeira was 4,90 lengths away, with the fading Zillzaal making up the quartet.
A R1 million National Yearling Sale graduate, the half-brother to Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge was bred by Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift, and is a son of multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the seven-time winner, Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master).
He took his win total to 6 from 7 starts with 1 place and stakes of R5 628 125. Hawwaam’s connections also banked the BSA Added Value Bonus of R154 000.
Marcus is contracted to ride Met winner Rainbow Bridge for the season, so Gavin Lerena may be back for the July. Now how does this result impact on the Vodacom Durban July betting?
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Gr1 Daily News 2000 (SAf-Gr1)
Greyville, South Africa, June 1, R2 million, 2000m, turf, good, 2.03.03
1 – HAWWAAM (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Silvano (GER) – Halfway To Heaven (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; Breeder Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein; trainer MF de Kock; jockey A Marcus
2 – Twist Of Fate (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Master Of My Fate (SAF) – Crescent Lily (SAF) by Counter Action (SAF)
3 – Capoeira (SAF), 60.0, b g 3, Oratorio (IRE) – Liberty Dance (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
Margins: 1.60, 4.90, 1.25
