The first feature of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Spring Country Series produced a top drawer finish at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, with eplacement jockey Louis Mxothwa getting the 12-1 Senso Unico home.
The 6yo gelding, who had run a commendable fourth behind Equus Champion Future Pearl in the Gold Vase last term, staved off a determined challenge from Triple Time, to give Klawervlei’s Twice Over the exacta honours in the R200 000 Hollywoodbets Listed Settlers Trophy.
Louis Mxothwa is hard at work on Senso Unico as Grant van Niekerk and Triple Time range up on the outside (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
On a festive Braai & Gallop raceday on the Heritage Day long weekend, local families, seemingly with the loadshedding and fuel price woes very much at back of mind, streamed in to the rustic venue to enjoy a wide variety of culinary and liquid attractions on offer.
And the racing provided the thrilling finishes, with the Vaughan Marshall-trained Senso Unico achieving an overdue feature success as he ground away to keep the lovely grey Triple Time, who received 3kgs, at bay.
At the line a nose separated the two, with the Marshall galloper resisting tote favourite Triple Time (5-2) in a time of 122,76 secs.
Enjoy the replay:
The trojan mare Flower Of Saigon (14-1) stayed on with courage to run third, a further 2,50 lengths back.
Last year’s winner Somerset Maugham produced no run and ran last.
The winner was bred Alec and the Hon Gillian Foster, who also raced the 2020 Durban July winner Belgarion, who carried their silks to victory in the 2019 renewal, before going on to his benchmark career success some nine months later.
The winner is by Observatory stallion Twice Over out of the Captain Al mare, Wheredowego.
Senso Unico has won 3 of 20 starts for stakes of R438 075 and looks a decent prospect for the summer season staying contests.
The day was a great success after track issues during the week, and included the introduction of an expanded new team of Track Angels, pictured below.
