The National Assembly gelding, Grand Emporium, bred at the Highlands
Farms Stud and trained for Mr A Geemooi by Weiho Mawing, was ridden
to a scintillating victory in the R400 000, Grade 1 Daily News 2000
at Greyville Racecourse yesterday by Kevin Shea.
Showing his class as one of South Africa’s very best riders, Shea
worked his winning plan to perfection, setting his mount in the
right position for a home straight challenge that carried him clear
of the field for an impressive win.
Considered by many not to have the staying power for the 2 000
metre trip, the gelding showed he can claim to be one of the best
if not the best three-year-old in the country. He beat the best
gathering of his peers to be seen in the country and he did it convincingly.
From a perfect break outsider Rusedski was the first to show but
MJ Byleveld quickly moved Tswalu round to set a cracking early pace,
ensuring a strong gallop for stable companions Greys Inn and Otter
Trail. Rusedski settled in behind him followed by Mist Of Gold,
Saddlewood, Grand Emporium, Otter Trail and My Choice.
As they moved into the home straight Rusedski made a break for
glory only to see Grand Emporium moving up smartly on his outside.
James Jaguar had come from off the pace and became the main challenger
to Grand Emporium.
But it is not easy to get the better of Kevin Shea in a strong
finish and as hard as Piere Strydom tried on James Jaguar, he could
make no impression on Grand Emporium who strode out strongly to
win. James Jaguar ran his best race in staying on for second with
Greys Inn finishing well for third ahead of Otter Trail and Saddlewood
who dead-heated for fourth.
Shea said after the race he had been extremely confident that Grand
Emporium was the horse to beat. He had ridden him in work during
the week and felt he had come on a lot since his previous win over
1 400 metres.
He said the race had panned out perfectly for him and he rated
Grand Emporium as a very good horse.
Earlier in the day Jeff Lloyd caused an upset on Charles Laird’s
Badger Land gelding, The Badger, when he drove the gelding through
along the inside to beat Geoff Woodruff’s colt Superwood in the
R125 000, Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2 400 metres.
Superwood had taken the lead in the straight and looked set for
victory. The Eiger Sanction was right there looking to get into
the action and The Badger was full of running and looking for a
way through.
The gap opened and Lloyd drove the gelding through to win in a
time just a fraction outside the course record.
Woodruff was unlucky that Superwood had just failed in that race
but he was all smiles after the running of the R250 000, Grade 2
Woolavington Stakes where his Elliodor filly, Promisefrommyheart,
removed all doubts about her class and her ability to stay well
beyond 1 600 metres.
To ensure a good gallop in the race stable companion Ondina led
the field from Princess Kay, Promisefrommyheart, La Diablesse and
Sabina Park. As they moved up the hill towards the final turn La
Diablesse closed up on the leaders with Promisefrommyheart having
moved up into second place.
In the home straight Piere Strydom gave Promisefrommyheart her
head and she pulled clear of the field and stormed away to win impressively
from Sabina Park, Princess Kay and Angelina.
Skin Tight had finished in fifth place but an objection was lodged
on her behalf against second-placed Sabina Park on the grounds of
interference in the home straight. The objection was upheld and
Sabina Park was placed behind Skin Tight moving the Weiho Mawing
filly into fourth position.
In his interview after the race, Geoff Woodruff said there had
been a bit of a concern about his filly staying the distance but
said the Gauteng race over 1 800 metres had not been run in a way
that suited her. He said she liked to have something to run at and
she had it here with Ondina setting the pace.
He said the filly would stay in South Africa and would eventually
go to stud here. South African racing needed quality breeding stock
like her for the good of the industry.
He said Promisefrommyheart was a filly who had the class to run
in the Vodacom Durban July but a decision on whether or not to run
her would be taken with the owners this week.
The meeting brought to a close a weekend of top-class racing at
Greyville with the R300 000, Grade 2 Astrapak 1900 having been run
on the Friday night.
A large crowd gathered at Greyville for the annual Astrapak Challenge
meeting which proved an entertaining success with the Sharks team
winning the challenge from the Astrapak team.
The Astrapak 1900 was an absolute thriller with Wolf Whistle just
being touched off by Geoff Woodruff’s Rambo Dancer gelding, His
Lordship.
His Lordship had made the running from Cousin John, Wolf Whistle,
Red Badge and Roman Charger. In the home straight Weichong Mawing
moved Wolf Whistle up to challenge His Lordship and the Mike de
Kock runner looked set to go on and win.
But under a strong ride from Brett Smith His Lordship fought back
and in a thrilling duel just got the better of Wolf Whistle who
had to settle for second place ahead of Alastor and Cousin John.