Washington Square rains on the parade
IT didn’t quite happen, the dream alive until the final stride, as Autumn Rain was touched off in a driving finish to the third at Scottsville yesterday.
Owned by Hong Kong-based trainer David Ferraris, ridden by son Luke and trained by Grandfather Ormond, who was on course to saddle, Autumn Rain went down in the last jump to Washington Square ridden by Gareth Wright.
Autumn Rain was always travelling well under Ferraris from his outside draw and looked to have the race in the bag until Washington Square came out of the pack to challenge and give Andre Nel the first of two winners.
Nel
However, Nel was quick to give credit to his KZN satellite team of Byron Forster and Thomas Simpkins.
“I didn’t train them,” he confessed modestly. While Washington Square scraped home, Silver Rose was far more convincing as the gelding sat handy under apprentice Serino Moodley and pulled away in the straight to win as he liked.
“I tried to keep him for Cape Town,” said Nel.
“But I just couldn’t get him right so sent him up to KZN.”
Much was made of former Vodacom Durban July winners Legislates return to the race track in a barrier trial after a spell at stud.
“He was getting one in three in foal,” said Snaith of the entire’s stud career.
“That’s just not good enough for a commercial stallion but I am really glad that he is back in training.”
Legislate did little more than a solid grass gallop and finished off nicely ahead of affairs as was expected. “He’s still heavy,” comment Snaith. “I’m not sure where to from here. That was his first real piece of work since he’s been back and I don’t know whether I will have him ready in time for any of the big races.”
“The (Rising Sun) Challenge looks the right race but Snowdance will probably go that route.
“I’m not sure. “We’ll just have to see how it goes.” Apprentice Lyle Hewitson keeps batting them in at the top of the log and he added another victory to his growing list on Majestic Glory. Hewitson produced Paul Lafferty’s Australian-bred with a telling late run and burst clear of the chasing pack with short-heads separating the next six runners home.
“He’s good this kid. He doesn’t panic,” said Lafferty’s assistant Roy Waugh.
Majestic Glory
This was Majestic Glory’s first crack at 1 200m and he stayed it well in soft underfoot conditions.
Moodley was back for a second bite at the cherry as Arizona Sunset gave Kom Naidoo his first winner since moving to Ashburton earlier this money.
His Ashburton colleagues were to the fore in the second as they saddled the first four past the post.
The Duncan Howells-trained favourite Beat It won well ahead of Fleek for Louis Goosen, Innocently Naughty for Naidoo and Pina Colada for Gary Rich.
Pure Bliss may have booked her place in the Gr1 Allan Robertson in a fortnight’s time after a smart victory in the card opener.
“She’s a smart filly,” according to Glen Kotzen. “She may go for the Gr1 at the end of the month but it’s not set in stone.”