Express win for Marco
TACTICS: WELL-PREPARED PLAN COMES TOGETHER IN WSB GRAND HERITAGE Sweet Sensation sneaks home in Sophomore 1000.
Expressfromtheus proved far too good for his opposition in Saturday’s WSB Grand Heritage over 1475 matt he Vaal. Ridden by Marco van Rensburg, the Stuart Pettigrewtrained runner came from off the pace to strike the front 200m from home to win this Non-Black Type race comfortably by two lengths.
Second place went to Whorly Whorly, who finished 0.75 lengths ahead of Spanish Boy, with Golden Pheasant in fourth.
Expressfromtheus went off as the 17-2 third favourite behind Oscar Wilde (9-4) and What You Are (27-4). Both Oscar Wilde and What You Are showed good pace towards the inside of the track but faded out in the closing stages. Oscar Wilde finished seventh, beaten nine lengths, with All Of Me a further three lengths back in ninth spot.
It was a win full of merit as the gelding carried top weight and was giving large chunks to many of his opposition. “He could be a very good horse but I believe he has his issues. I think the boss (Pettigrew) has got his work cut out for him,” added Van Rensburg.
“I want to thank Mr Pettigrew, because he stuck with me and this is the second time I’ve won this race for him.
“When we spoke about the horse and how I would have to ride him, he explained to me what had gone wrong with the horse. He was very specific about his instructions.
“He said he had fi xed the horse and sorted him out and needed me to ride him exactly the way he wanted me to ride him.
“And hats off to him, the race
worked out exactly the way he told me it would work out.”
The Heritage Consolation went to consistent the 22-10 favourite, Lucky Houdalakis-trained Dark Tide ridden by S’manga Khumalo, who beat off 4-1 second favourite Push Off by a head.
The WSB Sophomore 1000 also
produced a thrilling fi nish with just one length separating the fi rst four fi nishers. Sweet Sensation (10-1), trained by Corne Spies and ridden by Muzi Yeni, got up close home to get the better of 1510 favourite Anna Capri with Captain Moresco in third and Greens fourth.