Warrior Gladatorian finally takes Group 1 centre stage
Top picks got off to a flying start when odds-on fancy Golden Palm ($7) scored an authoritative win under champion jockey Richard Fourie in the first of the quartet of elite contests, the Douglas Whyte Stakes (1,600m), to cement trainer Alan Greeff's reputation as this season's king of juveniles.
That trend was, however, bucked in the next three events of the 10-race programme, with all favourites biting the dust.
A two-time winner from three starts, Jan Van Goyen (Callan Murray) did draw some support ($38) in the Champion Stakes (1,600m), but the interest was centred more around Tin Pan Alley, Chronicle King and Malmesbury Missile.
The Sean Tarry-trained Tin Pan Alley (S'manga Khumalo) briefly poked his head in front, but was left paddling away when Jan Van Goyen shot straight past for the Mike and Mathew de Kock father-and-son team.
Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint winner Tenango (Aldo Domeyer) was the overwhelming favourite in the next, the Mercury Sprint (1,200m), but was upstaged by Buffalo Storm Cody ($49) under an inspired ride by Gavin Lerena for trainer Tony Peter.
With two race meetings left in the South African season, Lerena has all but clinched his second title.
On 270 wins, he is 17 wins clear of Fourie (253) - despite a double by Fourie, having opened proceedings with I Salute You ($12) for ex-Kranji trainer Peter Muscutt in the Listed Michel Nairac Appreciation Stakes (1,600m).
Fittingly, the Mauritian-born Nairac, who was being farewelled as the retiring chief executive officer of Gold Circle and one of South Africa's leading bloodstock agents over many decades, received the perfect send-off with a Group 1 win in the highlight of the day, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champions Cup (1,800m).
Under a vigorous ride by Sean Veale, Gladatorian ($53) came with a well-timed run to touch off Durban July winner and favourite The Real Prince (Craig Zackey) by a neck.
Often unlucky with seconds and thirds in Grade 1 and 2 events, the Vercingetorix five-year-old finally beat the jinx in the one that mattered the most for Nairac.
The latter shares the 10-time winner with fellow Mauritians, including the estate of late ex-trainer Agasthamuni Gujadhur, in whose burgundy and blue hooped colours the gelding races.
When Tellytrack presenter Deez Dayanand referred to the Grade 1 victory as the cherry on the top, Nairac did not skip a beat by recalling a funny anecdote.
"I don't like the expression 'cherry on the top'. A friend once pushed my head into the cake," he said.
"But, I couldn't ask for better. You couldn't script this any better."
The de Kocks would not quite agree with that statement, though. Saddling an unusually small squad of only two runners at the marquee KwaZulu-Natal day, a rare 100 per cent strike rate in Grade 1 events looked on the cards after Jan Van Goyen saluted.
Their strongest card remained second favourite Dave The King in the Champions Cup. But, after leading, in search of a three-in-a-row under Murray, South Africa's Horse of the Year wilted to fifth.
Much less used to Grade 1 accolades than the de Kocks, winning trainer Stuart Ferrie was having a first taste of such success since taking over his boss Dennis Drier - who bought Gladatorian as a yearling and was his first trainer - two years ago.
"To win the Champions Cup, it's unbelievable," he said. "He's run against the best in all his starts since I took over him, except for a few prep runs.
"You've got to have the horse. This guy has been our flag bearer, he's been a soldier.
"He never puts a foot wrong. Every time you come, you're in with a shout. It's always a bit close, but that's him."
manyan@sph.com.sg
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