Touted as a potential Equus Champion last term, Justin Snaith’s favourite stayer Silver Host got his season off to a flyer with a convincing victory in Saturday’s R85 000 Listed Woolavington Stakes at Kenilworth.
Don’t look back – you’re not headed that way.
Maybe that’s the best advice for Justin Snaith after the SA Champion trainer recounted the bad luck hoodoo that plagued the Drakenstein-bred 5yo Silver Host on the East Coast last season.
Silver Host stretches clear under Richard Fourie (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
On Saturday the smashing son of Silvano rounded off a feature double for his late multiple champion sire – Sparkling Water won the Victory Moon an hour earlier – and gave Snaith the second leg of a very satisfying feature double.
Anse Lazio made the pace in a muddling sort of way with Silver Host stalking him all the way around the 2400m track.
Into the straight, Silver Host (16-10) showed vigour and enthusiasm after his 14 week break as he cruised clear to hold off the challenge of Crimson King (5-2) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 153,81 secs.
Anse Lazio (8-1) was game in third, a further 2,25 lengths back.
Now a winner of 6 races with 7 places from his 18 starts, Silver Host has accumulated R669 325 in stakes – quite some way yet off his sale price ticket.
He is a son of deceased multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the French Deputy mare Hosta – a US-bred half sister to Gr1 winner Colstar (Opening Verse).
Bred by Drakenstein, and raced in partnership by the top breeders, with Nic Johnsson and Nancy Hossack, Silver Host was a R2,6 million National Yearling Sale graduate.
Depending on the whims of Lady Luck, he should pay to follow in staying races over ground this season.
OFFICIAL RESULT
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | |||
| 1ST | 2 SILVER HOST | SJ Snaith | R Fourie | 13/10 | ||
| 2ND | 3 CRIMSON KING | GS Kotzen | A Marcus | 1.50 | 1.50 | 33/10 |
| 3RD | 4 ANSE LAZIO (AUS) | WA Nel | G van Niekerk | 2.25 | 3.75 | 8/1 |
| 4TH | 8 CATCHAFALLINGSTAR | GS Kotzen | *T Gumede | 0.40 | 4.15 | 16/1 |
| 5TH | 6 LEGITIMATE | DM Kannemeyer | K de Melo | 0.50 | 4.65 | 8/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 2 mins 33.81 sec | ||||||
| Tote
Fav |
2 SILVER HOST | SJ Snaith | R Fourie | __________ | 13/10 | |
