A terrific four-timer for Yvette Bremner at Fairview on Friday gave first season apprentice Lyle Hewitson a squeak of catching the long-time title pacesetter Callan Murray, with just a week left of the current season.
Lyle Hewitson – 6 winners in 2 days!
We have said it over and over again.
The progress of the young Hewitson, who only rode in his first professional race just four months ago, has been nothing short of extraordinary.
There were moans about his entitlement to a 4kgs claim after his workriders experience, but he has cruised through the weight breaks – and even without a discount is still booting home the winners.
Avontuur sponsored Callan Murray – still favourite to lift the title
He rode 6 winners between the Vaal on Thursday and Fairview on Friday, and there is now something in the region of 11 wins between him and another star, Callan Murray.
The joy of watching the two young talents compete is something to entertain even the most hardened punter and the prices of Hewitson’s winners on Friday show that he does’t necessarily get the pick of the rides – but makes the most of what he is given.
Purely Atomic (Charles Ndlovu) stays on well to hold Harvard Crimson (Richard Fourie) to win the feature (Pic – Coastal Photos)
The R150 000 Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes was the day’s feature.
Trainer Alan Greeff produced the goods from his six-pronged attack, courtesy of the Australian-bred Purely Atomic, who registered a well-deserved first stakes success, in the hands of Charles Ndlovu.
Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith enjoyed a superb hat-trick on the day, and they looked to have this one in the bag when the well supported 18-10 favourite Harvard Crimson came home powerfully inside the 300m.
Alan Greeff trained the winner
But Purely Atomic was not lying down and she rallied powerfully at 8-1 to get up and win by 0,75 lengths in a time of 99 secs flat.
Harvard Crimson was not disgraced in second, while her stablemate Cup Cake showed heartening resolve from her wide draw to come through well for third – and show cause that the mile may be within her range.
The Australian-bred Purely Atomic has won 5 races from 1000m to a mile – and has proven her prowess and versatility on both surfaces.
She has run ten places from her 20 starts and took her earnings to R401 950.
Encosta de Lago (Fairy Creek – Shoal Creek)
Purely Atomic is a daughter of Encosta de Lago out of the Danehill mare Catching Moonbeams – a daughter of French Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner, Imperial Beauty.
Mary Slack -loved Purely Atomic as a yearling
She was offered by Summerhill Stud on the 2013 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale where Wilgerbosdrift purchased her for R1,6 million, making her the top-priced filly on the sale.
“I love the looks of this horse, she has lovely extra long ears and I just loved her pedigree. I think if I bought her in Australia she would have made a very similar price. I am very much looking forward to her joining the broodmare band eventually, as she has very good paddock potential”, said Mary Slack after Purely Atomic was bought.
