Just a week after arriving at Summerveld with his SA Champions Season raiding party, Justin Snaith broke the ice when the 3yo Gran Canaria shed his maiden under a vintage Andrew Fortune ride at a sunny Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
We say ‘vintage’ purely from the entertainment angle, as Fortune displayed his mastery in the saddle, pinging the gates and getting the Vercingetorix gelding across from the awkward 9 draw.
Andrew Fortune dishes out the accolades as Gran Canaria cruises home (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Thereafter it was pure showmanship as the man with ‘the best hands on a horse’, in the words of winning owner Nic Jonsson, guided the 17-10 favourite to a deceptively facile victory over Joburg raider Pioneer Square (14-10) by under a length in a time of 85,18 secs for the 1400m.
It is possible that the Stipes may spoil the fun and have the top jockey on orders after his salutes and waves before the line.
Enjoy the interview:
A R500 000 National 2yo Sale purchase, Gran Canaria made it a first win in 5 starts after 3 places in the Cape.
“A month ago I didn’t have a licence. Now I’m riding winners for Snaith and Jonsson! If I was going to come back, it had to be impressive!” enthused the charismatic former champion as he added that he didn’t know what all the fuss was about.
“Gran Canaria had Cape form – the other horse (Pioneer Square) had Joburg form. I won’t be surprised to see him go on and win his next few runs. And pencil in Eight On Eighteen for the Champions Season,” added the Candyman.
Owner Nic Jonsson said that the Vets were the ‘big winners’ up to a point with Gran Canaria.
“He got very sick in the float on the way from the sale and we had to send him back. It was 50-50 at one point. To watch his win here today as he did, was most satisfying,” added the leading owners.
The winner is a Maine Chance Farms-bred son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Oasis Dream mare Granja, who won in Germany.
Here is the powerful Snaith travelling part that arrived in KZN on Sunday 6 April:
- Little Suzie
- Double Grand Slam
- Goodnessgraciousme
- Get Impressed
- Black Cheetah
- Malmesbury Missile
- Pacaya
- Regulation
- Great Plains
- Eight On Eighteen
- Sail The Seas
- Legal Counsel
- Future Swing
- Royal Aussie
- Rapidash
- Okavango
- African Prince
- Native Ruler
- Un Bel Di
- Summer Lily
- Late Bloomer
- Wild Wild Green
- Underworld
- Master Of Paris
- Gran Canaria
- Plumbago Park
- Rockpool
