The trainer of Vodacom Durban July runner-up Got The Greenlight says his 3yo was beaten fair and square in a very fair race by a horse that always looked the one to beat.
He has only one gripe about a terrific day ‘that all involved can be very proud of’.
Joey Soma was headed for his Turffontein home base on Sunday morning when he told the Sporting Post that Got The Greenlight had pulled up well and that his manger was empty after he had gone down 0,90 lengths to the well-handicapped Belgarion.
Candiese Lenferna captured the tussle for second place as Muzi Yeni and Got The Greenlight edge out Anton Marcus and Do It Again
“The pace was good. There were no standout incidents. My jockey Muzi Yeni did everything right. The winner came from behind him. The third horse was in front of him. At the end of the day, I must say congratulations to the winning connections,” added Joey, who said that the July was the Olympic games of horseracing and standing on the podium with a silver medal was not something he feels disappointed about.
Got The Greenlight will enjoy a good rest and Joey says it’s exciting to have a really smart 4yo heading his team going into next term.
“There are no firm plans as yet. Maybe we will look at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met. But I will talk to the partners and see what the team aspires to,” he said.
Asked about the unique day at Hollywoodbets Greyville, he said that ‘it was very different’ but special too.
“We must thank our hosts Gold Circle and the sponsors Vodacom – they can be very proud of putting on the biggest race of the year against the background of lockdown and the restraints of attendance and the inhibitions of the protocols. There are no text books and these are first time experiences for all of us.”
On a sobering note, Joey said that he felt that the televised product, which had become an even bigger shop window for regular and once-a-year players in the light of the behind-closed-doors event, was poor.
“The coverage of the race, the length of time we had to see horses at the pull-up for example, and the general production and camerawork was not up to scratch. It’s an opportunity lost when you have a chance to look after existing fans and win new people over. Gold Circle will hopefully visit and rectify that aspect before their next big raceday,” he added.
