THE four-year-old Rambo Dancer filly, Rambo’s Jewel, caused a major upset at Greyville in Durban on Thursday night when she defeated South Africa’s champion sprinter, Hinterland, and the country’s Horse Of The Year, Free My Heart, to win the R150 000, Grade 2, Drill Hall Stakes over 1 400 metres.

Beaming from ear to ear after his winning ride, veteran jockey Robbie "the Prince" Hill said he and trainer Dennis Drier would have been happy for the filly to run a place in this top company but everything went her way and she achieved her success in a time of 82,3 seconds.

Charles Laird’s Badger Land gelding, Hinterland, was favorite to win the race with the general feeling being that the 1 400 metres was too sharp for Free My Heart. Piere Strydom, who was aboard Hinterland when he won the Hawaii Stakes over 1 400 metres in his penultimate start, had the ride again and took the four-year-old gelding to the front from the jump.

Forest Court and Johnny Reb tracked Hinterland in the early stages as Free My Heart settled into his customary position at the rear of the field waiting, as always, to deliver his challenge in the home straight.

Hinterland looked set for victory again as Free My Heart began to close from the rear but halfway up the straight Hinterland looked in a little trouble as he failed to quicken when challenged by Rambo’s Jewel who was moving smoothly and appearing to have extra in hand.

Hinterland did everything he could to hold the filly at bay but she had his measure and took the lead with Free My Heart and stable companion National Title closing in quickly in the final strides. National Title finished the better of the Dean Kannemeyer pair and Free My Heart was certainly not disgraced, indicating that he was still a force to be respected, particularly over a bit more ground. 

Mr Robert Muir, owner of Rambo’s Jewel, and whose organisation, RC Muir Thoroughbred Enterprises (Pty) Ltd bred the filly from the Northern Guest mare, Generous Jewel, said he was delighted with the win. He will be returning to his home in the United States in the near future and the win was an outstanding fairwell gift.

Trainer Dennis Drier said fortune favoured the brave and, as Mr Muir would be leaving soon, "We decided to run the filly in the race and let her take her chances. We would have been happy if she just got a place, but the gamble paid off and this is a wonderful win in this class." 

Issued by:  Gill Simpkins
Communications Officer
Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd