WYLIE HALL BACK WITH VENGEANCE
Good prep for Champions Challenge
AFTER being demoted to second place on an objection in the Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1) at Greyville and then unplaced next time when again meeting all the trouble going in the Champions Cup (Grade 1) at the same venue, Weiho Marwing-trained Wylie Hall returned from an eight-month rest to steal the thunder at Turffontein on Saturday.
Going off a 3-1 favourite and partnered by Bernard Fayd’Herbe for the first time, the Australian-bred four-year-old seized a change of luck in the running with a convincing win in the R400 000 Colorado King Stakes (Grade) run over 2000m at the standside course.
Well placed behind The Hangman (8-1), Eurakilon (25-1) and Henry Higgins (8-1), the gelding quickened readily when set alight by Fayd’Herbe 400m out and came storming through to score by 1.50 lengths from Henry Higgins. Cagiva (7-2) came from last after a poor start to claim third place, a half-length back, with pacesetter, The Hangman, a further 1.50 lengths behind in fourth.
Marwing and owner Michael Leaf will justifiably be pleased with Wylie Hall’s run which augurs well for the gelding’s bid in the R2-million President’s Champion Challenge at Turffontein on April 25.
However, followers of the money had no such luck in the next race when Sean Tarry-trained Willow Magic (1-1) with Fayd’Herbe up was restless at the start and never a factor in the running, finishing last but one in the R400 000 Senor Santa Handicap (Grade 2) over 1160m. Victory went to Alec Laird-trained Dollar Dazzler (12-1) who recorded his fourth career win and third successive win in only eight starts.
Up with the speed throughout, the fouryear-old shrugged off a spirited challenge from Moofeed (7-1) and went on to score by 1.75 lengths. Ultra-consistent Greasepaint (20-1) was 1.25 lengths behind, relegating Aurum Pot (16-1) to fourth place by a head.
Another favourite went missing in the following race when hitherto consistent Not Sulking (3310) was never in the hunt and finished well down the field in the R250 000 Sycamore Sprint (Grade 3) over 1160m. This time it was Piere Strydom who did the damage on Barend Botes-trained Tzigane (121) who flashed up from last to take the measure of Virgo’s Babe (28-1) by just under a length.
Bichette stayed on three-lengths back in third place after a poor start, with a tiring Drifting Dusk (6-1) a further length adrift in completing the frame.
Jockey Anton Marcus did, however, give punters a bright start to the 10-event meeting, winning on three successive favourites. He struck in Race 1 on a Vaughan Marshall-trained Street Flyer (9-20) in a Maiden Plate over 1400m. He had the three-year-old in front from pole position and the Australian-bred gelding scored by 2.25 lengths from Heptagon (20-1).
In race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, he had a similar good draw aboard Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Quiana (28-10 favourite) who burst out of the pack and went to the line with two lengths to spare from Tarentum (40-1).
Marcus completed the hat-trick with Joe Soma-trained hot favourite Graduation Day (5-10) who destroyed his opposition in a Maiden Plate over 1160m. The fouryear-old Trippi gelding sped to the front from the start and won impressively by an increasing 11.25 lengths from Beach In A Bottle (7-1).