The R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July could be on the radar for Paul Peter’s very talented Soft Falling Rain gelding Shangani.
The 4yo made it five wins from seven starts with a fluent strike in the R175 000 Listed Aquanaut Handicap at a gloomy Turffontein on Saturday.
With two races still to run, racing was abandoned after the running of the 2400m contest after jockey representatives informed the Stipes that they were concerned with the kick-back and consistency of the track. It was unanimously decided to abandon races 10 and 11 in the interests of rider safety, welfare of the horses and the integrity of the remaining races.
Warren Kennedy drives Shangani out to a smooth win (Pic – JC Photos)
Trainer Paul Peter rounded off another good day at the office, with stablemates Shangani (12-10) and Green Haze (12-1) leading the charge home in the Aquanaut, with 3,75 lengths separating them.
The dual stakes-winning Shangani, who is a model of consistency, clocked 156,13 in the less than ideal conditions, and has now won from a mile to 2600m.
Trainer Paul Peter was thrilled for his two ‘soldier owners’ Laurence Wernars, who was absent at a wedding, and Harry Wilson.
We asked him what the plans were for the 4yo gelding and whether he was just a good stayer, with relatively limited options on South Africa’s stamina programme.
“The sky is the limit for this horse! I think this was a clever mating as the classy stamina of the dam is injected with speed from Soft Falling Rain. He is no dour plodding staying type – he has a turn of foot and I think the 2200m of the Hollywoodbets Durban July could well suit him. But I still have to sit down with the owners and look at the options. I’m just privileged to train some nice horses. We can’t do it without good owners and good horses,” added Paul Peter.
A half-brother to dual Aquanaut Handicap winner Chitengo, Shangani was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is by ill-fated champion Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly) out of the Montjeu sired Gold Bowl victress Gorongosa.
Shangani cost R250 000 at the National Yearling Sale. He has won 5 of 7 starts with 2 places for stakes of R417 475,
OFFICIAL RESULT:
TRAINER JOCKEY DISTANCE BETTING
1 ST 6 SHANGANI P A Peter W Kennedy —– 14/10
2 ND 4 GREEN HAZE P A Peter C Maujean 3,75 3,75 25/2
3 RD 8 BLACK THORN S G Tarry G van Niekerk 0,50 4,25 2/1
4 TH 9 BARAK M F de Kock K Matsunyane 1,00 5,25 16/1
5 TH 1 IMPERIAL RUBY C Spies C Zackey 0,50 5,75 33/1
TIME OF RACE: 156.13 s
Tote Favourite 6 SHANGANI P A Peter W Kennedy —– 14/10
- The Hollywoodbets Durban July will be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 2 July 2022.
- The stake of Africa’s Greatest Horserace has been increased to R5 million.
