A R1 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, the 7yo Sachdev bounced back from his 2022 temporary retirement following a knee injury, to score something of a surprise victory in the Saturday top-liner at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
Finishing as though he had been parachuted into the race at the 200m marker, Sachdev took off under Louis Mxothwa to grab the lion’s share of the spoils in the R175 000 Class 2 contest over 1800m.
Sachdev (Louis Mxothwa) storms clear of Gareth Wright and Sugar Mountain (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Exploding through late after his more fancied stablemate Rockpool looked the real deal, Sachdev (14-1) won full of running and beat Sugar Mountain (4-1) under replacement rider, and ‘super sub’ Gareth Wright by half a length in a time of 108,65 secs.
The Candice Bass-Robinson yard, now in their third meeting without a winner, would have been banking on the uber consistent Sugar Mountain, but found an old man in a galloping mood! They broke their duck in style in the very next race with the exacta.
Dean Kannemeyer will be pleased with the late flourish from Ponte Pietra (9-2), who charged through from last after Craig Zackey opted for a run up the outside, to grab third berth, a further 1,25 lengths back.
The highly regarded Rockpool (4-1) tired late and rounded off the quartet.
Mxothwa was aboard when Sachdev last won – that was on 11 September 2021 over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
Trainer Justin Snaith explained that Sachdev had been retired after running downfield in the 2022 Listed Jet Master Stakes.
“We retired him with a knee issue. But that kind of injury also means that they are hard to rehome and we are very careful about where our horses go. So we chucked him out on a farm with the lead ponies. And every few months I received farrier bills. Eventually we had to make a call – and the knee was 100%! These decent old horses are tough to replace – so I spoke to Nic (Jonsson, owner) and he said let’s see what he does,” added Snaith.
Enjoy the replay:
A runner-up behind Golden Ducat in the 2020 ARF Commemorative Gr1 Cape Derby, and the 2021 Glorious Goodwood Gr2 Premier Trophy, Sachdev was no cheapie and is still without a stakes victory. But that could all change yet – even at the age of 7.
A winner of 6 races with 11 places from 32 starts, the Normandy Stud bred son of deceased multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) is out of the Kabool mare, Quetta, a half-sister to Cape Derby winner and from the family of multiple champions Mother Russia and Winter Solstice.
Sachdev took his earnings to R512 701.
This is the penultimate racemeeting at the Country Course during its presently extended stay, with one more fixture on Tuesday 21 November, before we return to the revamped Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 26 November.
