COME one, come all - and particularly South African Derby winner, Yard-Arm.

That was the message sent out loud and clear at Greyville Racecourse in Durban on Saturday when the Fort Wood colt, Dynasty, handed a galloping lesson to his opponents in the R400 000, Grade 1, Sunday Tribune South African Guineas.

Expected challenges from two of the country’s top three-year-olds, Surveyor and Domino Man, failed to materialize as the beautiful, big colt with his huge, elastic stride chewed them up and spat them out as he cruised to an easy 2,75 lengths victory in a time of 95,9 secs.

Those who predicted the 1 600 metres would be his achilles heel and play firmly into the hands of Domino Man who beat him in the Cape Argus Guineas, stood with mouth agape as Dean Kannemeyer’s colt, ridden by Karl Neisius, picked the Mike de Kock-trained son of Dominion Royale up in the home straight and, treating him with utter disdain, tossed him aside to go on and win by nearly three lengths.

Surveyor, who had twice beaten Domino Man in Gauteng, never got into the race in spite of there being just nine runners and jockey Anthony Delpech said later in the meeting that the slow pace and short Greyville straight did not suit the David Ferraris runner.

For Domino Man there could be no excuses, he raced up third behind Diamond Lullaby and City Edition with the pace better suited to him than Dynasty, and got first run in the home straight to gain a clear advantage 300 metres out.

But, when Karl Neisius gave Dynasty his head he quickened smartly and was soon alongside Domino Man with Kevin Shea working like a trojan in the saddle. But his efforts were to no avail as Dynasty swept past him and pulled clear to win easily.

Shea undoubtedly felt he would have to settle for second on Domino Man but even that was denied him in the final strides when Justin Snaith’s Jallad gelding, Mambo, flew through to snatch the honour by a head with Surveyor running on late for four fourth pace, a head behind Domino Man.

For Mr John Newsome it was an outstanding result with his horses finishing first and second. He is the nominee of Fieldspring Racing, which owns Dynasty, and he also owns Mambo in partnership with Mr Graham Beck.

The R250 000, Grade 1, South African Fillies Guineas produced an exciting finish with Geoff Woodruff’s National Assembly filly, Duchess Daba, holding off a strong late challenge from Weiho Mawing’s Al Mufti filly, Hawaiian Wahoo by a neck.

Justin Snaith’s Fort Wood filly, Secret Heart, was favourite to win the race and Glen Hatt wasted no time in taking her to the front ahead of Blushing Fairy and second favourite, Duchess Daba. Secret Heart enjoys the role of pacemaker and, as she led the field into the home straight she looked set for another end to end victory.

But Robbie Hill was not letting her get away and, as Blushing Fairy fell by the wayside, the Woodruff runner moved in to challenge, then take the lead from Secret Heart who was obviously feeling the effects of her pacemaking effort. She had nothing left to offer as Mark Khan drove Hawaiian Wahoo past her and off in pursuit of Duchess Daba, challenging strongly over the final meters.

But veteran Robbie Hill is a hard man to beat in the finish and he extracted the extra from Duchess Daba, which got her to the line with a neck to spare. Secret Heart battled on to the line but in the final strides was caught by stable companion to Hawaiian Wahoo, The Daydream, and the two crossed the line as one to deadheat for third spot.

Issued by:  Gill Simpkins

Communications Officer

Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd