THE first R450 000 KZN Chapter Challenge Series, which came to an end at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday night with the running of the three R150 000 finals, has been hailed as an outstanding success. The next series will begin shortly, with the finals being run on Gold Cup Day.

The finals were part of the programme at the Greyville night racemeeting at which KZN Racing Chapter Chairman, Bill Lambert, announced the massive R500 000 stake increase for the Vodacom Durban July which will now be R1,5-million.  It was also the venue for the running of the R125 000 King's Cup.

While one of the highlights of the meeting was the live coverage of the Dubai World Cup where Mike de Kock's two runners, Victory Moon and Ipi Tombe, blasted Southern African racing firmly onto the international stage. Victory Moon won the $2-million, Group 2, UAE Derby and Ipi Tombe humbled some of the best horses in the world to win the $2-million, Group 1, Dubai Duty Free.

The KZN Chapter Series finals - over 1 200 metres, 1 600 metres and 2 000 metres - all produced thrilling, neck and neck racing.  The first event, the sprint, being won by Lily Of The Lake - the four-year-old Braashee filly bred and owned by one of the doyens of South African racing and breeding, Mr George Rowles.

Lily Of The Lake won by a short head from Connel's Courier after the two had fought a neck and neck battle over the final 200 metres.

The 1 600 metre final went to Ricky Maingard's Huntingdale gelding, Gunpowder, the least fancied of the Maingard trio. Ridden by Kelvin Jupp, Gunpowder exploded onto the scene late in the race to beat Golden Rambo and stable companion Respectable Model.

The last of the Challenge Series finals, over 2 000 metres, was won by 10-1 chance Centuriator from the yard of Dennis Bosch and was perfectly ridden by Stuart Randolph, beating home Greenwood and favourite Master Gold.

Dennis Drier had a good evening at the meeting firstly winning the third race with Coopers Ferry. MJ Byleveld did the honours in the saddle on that occasion and was in the irons again on Rambo's Jewel who finished strongly to win the R125 000 King's Cup for Drier from L'Esperance and Champagne Preview.

Gill Simpkins
Communications Officer
Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd