The incredible journey of former SA Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu continued at Del Mar on Saturday when the Hollywood Syndicate flagbearer ran his heart out in a dramatic sixteenth renewal of the $1 million Prevagen Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
On a rollercoaster day when the Hollywood Syndicate achieved their magic milestone 600th winner on African soil at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, things didn’t quite go Isi’s way in California as he enjoyed the honour of being only the third South African-bred galloper to have competed at a Breeders’ Cup meeting after Spook Express (2001) and Super Brand (2004).
Beach Bomb would follow a few hours later.
Isivunguvungu and Manuel Franco en route to the start (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
And we will never know where the Narrow Creek Stud-bred 6yo gelding would have finished after he jumped smartly and made inroads on the much vaunted Cogburn in the home run.
Isivunguvungu then had to be checked and snatched up late by Manuel Franco as the flying winner Starlust was angled outward by Rossa Ryan as he made his victory run.
Isivunguvungu suffered interference, but the race was effectively over. He was not disgraced, finishing seventh of eleven runners, beaten only two lengths.
There was no progress on the inquiry immediately afterwards and winning rider Rossa Ryan punched the air in delight when the all-clear was given.
Winning trainer Ralph Beckett said of the inquiry: “It was a long time ago and you may not remember, but Secret Gesture got taken down in the Beverly D. in 2013 and there was a bit of deja-vu, but it wouldn’t have been fair to take him down, given the favorite lugged out. But, finally, it’s a terrific day.”
An invitation to run in the HK$26 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint over 1200m at Sha Tin on 8 December is in the pipeline for the Graham Motion-trained Isivunguvungu.
While a placing on Saturday may have been a confidence booster for his connections when considering a trip to Sha Tin, Isivunguvungu had excuses. There will be decisions to be made in the next few weeks!
But let’s give full credit to Starlust (GB),the winner of Saturday’s Gr1.
Last early on, the son of Zoustar found clear running along the rail in the stretch to score a neck victory over Motorious (GB).
Manuel Franco can be seen snatching Isivunguvungu up as Starlust burst through in the pink and green silks (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Rossa Ryan, Starlust completed the 1000m on a firm turf course in 55.92 secs. It is the second World Championships victory for Beckett, who previously won with Muhannak (IRE) in the 2008 Marathon. It is the first Breeders’ Cup win for Ryan.
Heavily favoured Cogburn rocketed out to an uncontested lead and maintained a daylight advantage until mid-stretch when the field began to close in. Ag Bullet and Star of Mystery (GB) closed in first on Cogburn while to the inside, Starlust had clear sailing and got up in the final strides for the victory. Motorious got up for second by a nose over Ag Bullet.
Third in the Breeders’ Cup Gr1 Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last year, Starlust is a 3-year-old son of Zoustar (AUS) out of the Invincible Spirit mare Beyond Desire (GB). Starlust now boasts earnings of $915,137.
Full marks again to Isivunguvungu and the Hollywood Syndicate. There’s no disgrace in this defeat!
