The Frank Robinson-trained gelding Decorated is by Galileo sire Global View and won the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m in eyecatching style under Muzi Yeni on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Later, Drakenstein Stud increased their number of stakes victories for the season to 22 when scoring a one-two in the Track And Ball Oaks with a pair of Futura fillies, Pink Tourmaline and Light Of The Moon, and this provided a secocnd Grade 2 win of the SA Champions Season for the Brett Crawford-Luyolo Mxothwa combination.

Yeni gave Decorated a fine ride and the most impressive part about it was he did not panic when caught one wide in third position. This position often prompts a jockey to start looking around to try and slot in, thus unbalancing the horse and wasting energy. However, Yeni accept his fate and managed to keep the horse relaxed despite facing the breeze.

He then crept up around the turn and had soon hit the front in the straight.

The impressive part of the horse's performance was that he appeared beaten when about to be caught by Salvator Mundi and Spring Fling on his outside.

However, it became apparent he was just looking for company and a change of whip hands by Yeni might also have helped.

As the challengers ranged alongside, with Salvator Mindi atually going marginally ahead, Decorated rallied back and surged to the front again.

He won by a head from Salvator Mundi with Spring Fling beaten 1,20 lengths into third.

Chewbaca proved the 17 point raise he was give to 96 after his fourth place finish in the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup was warranted when finishing a 1,60 length fourth.

Senso Unico was favourite and finished a 3,50 length fifth. He could be one to follow next season as this promising big horse is just too immature at present.

Decorated was bred by John Slade and is owned by Dudley Cherry, son of the late great trainer Brian Cherry.

He is going to be an interesting contender in the Marshalls World Of Sports Gold Cup having showed improvement over this trip yesterday. It is also clear what tactics will suit him.

Robinson caused a few raised eyebrows when he entered the 81 rated Decorated in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He had risen to an 88 by Saturday and proved he is Graded class.

In Yesterday's Track And Ball Oaks Light Of The Moon took up her favourite front- running role.

She looked to have it won late in the day as she had finally shaken off the persistent challenge of Silver Maria and Yeni looked set for a Derby/Oaks double.

However, the rangy Pink Tourmaline had in the meantime been running on resolutely down the outside from a position just forward of midfield and caught the small filly when its counted.

Pink Tourmaline has won two stakes events this season.

She is one of Drakenstein's record-breaking 16 individual stakes winners this season.

The gallant Barend Botes and Yolandi Vosloo-trained Light Of The Moon recorded her third successive big race runner up finish, which includes two Grade 2s and a Grade 1, and in between those races was a Middle Stakes race win.

Silver Maria finished third just ahead of the favourite She's A Keeper and Scented Mistress was next best.

Text and image Gold Circle