A 4yo who showed an early penchant for Hollywoodbets Greyville, the Ridgemont bred Rafeef gelding Ziyasha bounced back unshod from a 24 week break to win the R185 000 KRA Cup at the Theatre Of Champions on Saturday.
The Korea Racing Authority has maintained close ties with South African racing over many years and after their representatives visited the Cape during the week, they attended the WSB 1900 raceday as the Champions Season got into stride after a champagne opening a week earlier.
Raymond “Stingray’ Danielson has Ziyasha in control as Athandiwe Mgudlwa delivers Hithemhardsunshine late for a Hollywood Racing 1-2 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The R185 000 KRA Cup was run as an A Stakes contest over 1000m and produced a memorable finish for the red-hot Hollywood Racing team who had the pleasure of watching their flagbearers run 1-2 -4, the trio from different stables.
Unleashed late in the race by Raymond Danielson, Ziyasha (8-1) showed no ill effects after his enforced break after winning the Bantry Bay Stakes in Cape Town during November, and powered on to hold off the revitalised Hithemhardsunshine (100-1) by 0,90 lengths in a time of 58,92 secs for the 1000m.
Future Variety (8-1) took off late for third, with tote favourite Luhamba Phambili (5-2) capping the quartet.
A delighted Clinton Binda brings Ziyasha and Raymond Danielson back to the winner’s circle (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Trainer Clinton Binda explained that his charge developed an abscess in his foot during the Cape summer where his connections had Grade 1 aspirations.
“Thanks to all at Hollywood Racing and to my team. We put pressure on ourselves and this horse. Now we look forward to the Golden Horse Sprint,” added the Highveld conditioner.
Winning Form-sponsored jockey Raymond Danielson said that Ziyasha felt good and much better than when he won on him at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He indicated that he was of the opinion that there was a lot more to come from the gelding – which bodes well for the balance of this season.
Bred by Ridgemont, and a second winner on the day for their super sire Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice), Ziyasha is out of the four-time winning Kingmambo mare Kelly’s Olympics.
One of the highest rated non stakes winners in the country, Ziyasha is now a winner of 6 races with 9 places from his 20 starts.
Ziyasha took his stakes bank to R657 494 after today’s victory.
He cost R325 000 at the National Yearling Sale.
We are likely to see Ziyasha’s name in the mix when entries for the R1 million Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint open on Friday 23 May. The race will be run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 31 May.
