The Corne Spies-trained Ridgemont-bred Rafeef soldier William Robertson produced a gutsy performance under a superbly judged ride by Apprentice Trent Mayhew to beat Sean Tarry’s course-and-distance specialist Lucky Lad in a R175 000 Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
The 4yo Lucky Lad is one of the most popular horses around and was having his first run this season after what many considered to be an unlucky second-placed effort behind Surjay in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint.
For jockey Craig Zackey it was something of a pressure moment as he took over from Richard Fourie, the only other jockey to have partnered the Varsfontein-bred star, at what was his thirteenth start.
Fourie won 7 races, including two Gr1’s, two Gr2’s and a Gr3 on Lucky Lad.
Trent Mayhew keeps William Robertson going to hold off the fancied Lucky Lad (Craig Zackey) in a thriller (Pic – JC Photos)
While the field scratched down to six runners, there was plenty of faith in Lucky Lad making a winning return after a 12 weeks absence over a course and distance he was unbeaten on – and he was a popular Pick 6 banker for many.
Riding the son of Gimmethegreenlight for the first time, Craig Zackey had Lucky Lad closer to the action in midfield in the small field, and he looked dangerous going into the 250m marker.
But fairytale comebacks don’t happen every day, as William Robertson (4-1) benefitted from superior match fitness and the 2,5kg claim of Trent Mayhew, who did everything right, to hold off the courageous Lucky Lad, who had drifted from 6-10 before 11-10 and went down by 0,20 lengths. William Robertson clocked 68,61 for the 1160m.
The Ridgemont Highlands-bred William Robertson by the champion farm’s top-class sire Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the thrice winning Trippi mare, Massachusetts.
The now 6yo gelding cost R500 000 on the BSA National 2yo Sale and is a winner of 11 of his 36 starts with 14 places – he has earned R1 948 125.
