Former Equus Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu will spend just over four hours on the road from Fair Hill Training Centre in Maryland to Virgina today where he is set to line up against 13 opponents in the $150 000 Da Hoss Stakes to be contested over 1100m at the Colonial Downs racetrack at 22h55 (SA) time this evening.
His Kentucky Derby, Dubai World Cup, and Breeders Cup – winning trainer Graeme Motion, who saddled fellow SA-bred Beach Beauty to a smart placed debut effort last week, has declared that he and his team are excited to get ‘Isi’ started.
Isivunguvungu goes through his paces at morning training (Pic – Maggie Kimmitz/ Herringswell Stables)
Off the track since his runner-up finish behind last season’s champion sprinter Thunderstruck at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January this year, the next step of the incredible journey for the Narrow Creek bred dual Gr1-winning son of What A Winter, himself a champion sprinter of his time, continues this evening.
“He hasn’t missed a beat and has gotten pretty sharp in the last 3 or 4 weeks. He is a pleasure to be around and we have alternated his training – we have had him on the track and out in the fields, which he enjoys.”
Graeme Motion – happy to see the SA speed star on track (Pic – Maggie Kimmitz)
The trainer added that the weather ‘is perfect’.
“We are over the real heat of summer and the weather is lovely. The racing conditions will be perfect and the ground will be firm. There is a bit of rain forecast, but nothing significant. He rides for us in New York and we are very happy to have Manny Franco aboard. He has a number of other rides on the big day. Fingers and toes crossed from here,” concluded Motion.
Click here for the final fields.
The 29 year old Puerto Rican-born Manny Franco has ridden over 2100 winners and is best known for winning the 2020 Belmont Stakes on Tiz the Law.
Formerly trained by Peter Muscutt in South Africa, Isivunguvungu was named by former Hollywoodbets Sharks and Springboks rugby player Odwa Ndungane, who is a Hollywoodbets brand ambassador.
Here is a message from Odwa:
The race will be shown on Gallop TV and Racing 240 at 22h55.
Hollywoodbets are betting on the race with fixed odds and open bets dividends from the track- click here for more.
