National Horseracing Authority Chairman Ken Truter had an excellent week in Korea capped off with a stunning performance from Elusive Silva who has booked his ticket for the Vodacom Durban July after an impressive victory from well off the pace in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 at Greyville. Tabnews reports.

Expertly handled by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the winner was unplaced when going off as favourite in this race a year ago, but had since suffered a tendon injury, and was far easier to back at 9-1 this time.

He entered the straight near the rear after jumping from the worst draw, but halfway up the lane he had moved into contention wider out as the handy horses Kampala Campari and Crowd Pleaser fell away.

His jockey had things under control after that, and although tote favourite Dark Moon Rising ran on strongly, the winning margin of half a length flatters the runner up somewhat.

Ngaga shows true form

Supporting feature was the Listed East Coast Cup for females over 2000m, and Ngaga showed her last run was all wrong with a length and a half win under a clever tactical ride from Richard Fourie.

Always close to the pace in a slow run affair, renowned front running rider Fourie sat up handy and made his move coming off the false rail. Those tried and tested Greyville tactics worked a treat again, and he never looked like losing thereafter on the marginal 61-20 favourite.

Good comeback by African Night Sky

The seventh was a far stronger than normal Pinnacle Plate, and a lot of people’s fancy for the Vodacom Durban July African Night Sky gave his fans plenty to be optimistic about despite being defeated by well weighted stable mate Star Express on his KZN seasonal debut.

Grant Van Niekerk kept the 18-10 favourite in the rear and it seemed Star Express would score comfortably when the Grade 2 winning mare swept into the lead 200m out.

However African Night Sky quickened like a good horse should late on, and was only a long head adrift at the line.
Of course under the conditions of a Pinnacle Plate African Night Sky’s merit rating cannot be raised for placing, despite running far closer to the winner than he ‘should’ have under these conditions.

The race was marred late on as Steel Rose and Piet Botha took a heavy tumble in the closing stages. KZN chief stipe Shaun Parker confirmed later that an enquiry would be opened into this incident.

Veteran rider Botha was taken to hospital for observation with possible concussion, while Steel Rose emerged relatively unscathed.

Tabnews.co.za