Room at the top for Winchester Mansion

KABELO MATSUNYANE scored the biggest win of his career as Winchester Mansion got the better of hometown favourite See It Again in a thrilling finish to yesterday’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The 30 000 enthusiastic spectators were treated to a thrilling spectacle as two horses and two jockeys gave it their all.

The two joined in combat 300m out as they pulled clear of the opposition and it was a duel to the line.

Strydom

Piere Strydom, bidding for his fifth win in the race before his expected retirement, had to switch See It Again off the heels of a tiring Without Question but looked to just hold the upper hand on his challenger as Michael Robert’s runner See It Again stuck resolutely to his guns.

But Winchester Mansion gained inchby-inch and it was a nod of the heads at the line with Winchester Mansion prevailing by a head.

It was Matsunyane’s first Gr1 victory of his career, it was also a first for trainer Brett Crawford and his assistant, son James, and owner and breeder Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein stud who have had a fabulous feature race season.

Crawford

Crawford was almost speechless after the race but was full of praise for his jockey. “When you’ve got a guy like Strydom on your inside you don’t expect the other jock to get past him so full credit to that guy back there he’s had a phenomenal season, he rode a great race and he’s set himself a great future ahead.”

For Roberts it was heartbreak, so near but so far. Roberts and Strydom’s relationship goes back to their riding days where both were fierce competitors. Strydom gave See It Again the perfect ride but was just not able to give his older rival 3.5kg.

Surprise package was the filly Bless My Stars who ran on gamely for third while the old man of the race and two-time winner Do It Again ran his usual courageous race to finish fourth and placed in all six July’s that he contested.

In the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province stakes, the expected duel between Princess Cala and Desert Miracle didn’t quite materialize although they did finish one-two.

Princess Calla

The race was run at a pedestrian pace, which played into the hands of Princess Calla who has few peers when it comes to sprinting.

Visiting France champion jockey Christophe Soumillon had Princess Calla in his sights for all of the race but when it came to the business end, Richard Fourie had skipped on the favourite and she won rather comfortably.