Summerveld trainer Gavin van Zyl became the first visitor in Cape Racing’s renaissance summer of 2022 to find the winner’s box when the Maine Chance bred Quandary shed his maiden certificate under Sporting Post-sponsored Athandiwe Mgudlwa in the second at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Thandi Mgudlwa drives Qundary home (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
While it was a watershed moment for the unique RaceCape initiative that has led to a boom in the interprovincial horse transport industry and an influx of visitors not seen for many years during the Cape Summer, Quandary’s victory also marked a proud moment for the Sporting Post, with Athandiwe Mgudlwa become the first SP-sponsored jockey to win in the Cape.
A Maine Chance bred son of Vercingetorix (Silvano), Quandary has now raced in three provinces and has earned at all four of his starts. He played himself into Gold Rush contention, winning with authority by 2,75 lengths in a time of 72,53 secs.
Spencer Cook is assisting Gareth van Zyl and looks very pleased with the result (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Piet Botha’s 50-1 outsider Montien stayed on for second on an eyecatching debut.
The innovative R7,5 million Gold Rush will be run over 1600m on Cape Met day, 28 January 2023, and is based on the same principle as The Everest in Australia.
The 16 Prospectors for the Gold Rush 1 are:
- David Abery
- Central Route Trading
- Chris van Niekerk and Bernard Kantor
- Suzette and Basie Viljoen
- Ridgemont Highlands Stud
- Hollywood Bets
- Pieter Graaff and Ken Truter
- Maine Chance Farms
- Bass Racing and Ian Longmore
- Rikesh Sewgoolam
- Drakenstein Stud
- Laurence Wernars
- Crawford Racing
- Klawervlei Stud
- Sandy Arundel
- Playgate SA
