Green With Envy (Gimmethegreenlight) stole the show at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with a stylish victory in the R1,5-million SplashOut Cape Derby (Gr 1). Given his customary patient ride by Craig Zackey, Green With Envy fired up his engines in the home stretch and drew clear of multiple Grade 1 winner Beach Bomb to score by nearly three lengths. Trained by Dean Kannemeyer for the Khaya Stables of Lady Laidlaw, Green With Envy looks an ideal type for the Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m at Greyville and the son of Gimmethegreenlight will no doubt have a big following in the “July” ante-post market.
Beach Bomb, the only filly in the race, was beaten fairly and squarely on the day but was far from disgraced in second spot with outsiders Oriental Charm and Coastal Commander rounding out the quartet. The only real disappointment was Hluhluwe who did not give of his best over the additional 400m of the Derby. He had twice beaten Green With Envy over 1600m this Season, but the latter has progressed nicely since being stepped up in trip and Hluhluwe trailed in a never-dangerous five lengths adrift of Green With Envy on Saturday.
Thunderstruck (Rafeef) capped a fine Summer Season for Sean Tarry, Richard Fourie, Mary Slack and breeders Avontuur Stud with a hard-fought victory in the R600 000 Diadem Stakes (Gr 2) over 1200m. The favourite had to dig deep to hold off a threatening challenge by the ever-improving Future Variety who closed sharply inside the final 200m. Just as it seemed that Future Variety would go on by, Thunderstruck found that bit extra and rallied to get the verdict by a neck. It was lovely to see Mary Slack on course to lead in her son of Rafeef, who has raced five times this season for three wins and two runner-up berths.
On paper, the R250 000 SplashOut Prix Du Cap (F&M) over 1400m seemed very competitive but Double Grand Slam turned the race into a procession. Rascova (Lancaster Bomber) took up her usual pacemaking role and was three lengths clear at the top of the straight. She stuck to her task well all the way to the line but was no match over the final 300m for Double Grand Slam who sprinted away to put three lengths between herself and her rivals. October Morn got up to finish second ahead of Rascova with Mrs Geriatrix not too far way in fourth position.
Gary Player races Double Grand Slam in partnership with Dave MacLean and Suzette Viljoen and the golfing legend was present to welcome his daughter of Vercingetorix into the winner’s enclosure.
Double Grand Slam was the second leg of a race-to-race double for Suzette Viljoen who also shares ownership in Royal Aussie, a dominant winner on Saturday of the Pongracz Jet Master Stakes. Sent out 9/4 favourite, Royal Aussie (Royal Mo) was never in danger of defeat and stormed home with more than a length to spare over Gold Poker Game, Ponte Pietra and Quasiforsure. Both Double Grand Slam and Royal Aussie were ridden to victory by Grant Van Niekerk and trained by Justin Snaith.
Earlier in the day Snaith would have been hugely disappointed with Roman Eagle’s lack-lustre performance in the R1-million Cape of Good Hope Nursery (Gr 3) for 2yo’s over 1200m. Roman Eagle was always in the firing line but faded away tamely as One Stripe and Winds of Change assumed control. One Stripe was always travelling too strongly for Winds of Change and the Vaughan Marshall-trained son of One World drew ahead under Bernard Fayd’herbe in the colours of Rakesh Sewgoolam to account for Winds of Change by more than a length.
Having also won the opener on the warm order favourite Talk To The Master, Fayd’herbe completed a quickfire treble when booting home Lucinda Woodruff’s Café Culture to a narrow victory in the opening leg of the carryover Pick 6. The heavily supported Pomodoro’s Jet never recovered from early interference and was well beaten into fourth position.
The Summer Season finale, The Workriders vs Jockeys Challenge over 1200m, was taken out by the firm favourite Speed Racer to complete a nice double for Craig Zackey and Lady Laidlaw.
