Birthday Boy Weiho Marwing’s Son Of Raj put his 2023 SA Derby hand up when slamming his field to win the R175 000 Listed Derby Trial at Turffontein on Saturday.
Owner-breeder Steven Chetty has enjoyed plenty of staying race success with the 4yo Arumugam, and he looks to have a decent sort in the shape of the full-brother Son Of Raj, who finished with a flourish to register his first stakes success.
Like his older brother, the former KZN resident has adjusted well to his home away from the coast and made it 3 wins from 6 starts as he took his stakes bank to R232 250.
Son Of Raj finishes with a sustained effort under Keagan de Melo (Pic – JC Photos)
Keagan de Melo had Son Of Raj relaxed some lengths off the gallop set by River Romeo.
Into the home run Son Of Raj (7-2) built up gradually and got stronger as the race progressed to win with ease by 3 lengths in a time of 125,32 secs.
Another eyecatching son of emerging Dynasty stallion Futura, Sean Tarry’s unfancied Future Pearl finished with a flourish to come out of the pack for second.
The fancied Top Sail (11-2) was 0,40 lengths away in third.
The winner is a son of the deceased Cartier Champion and five time Gr1 winner, Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) out of the three-time winning Black Minnaloushe mare, Freudinia.
His full-brother Arumugam contests the Listed Aquanaut Handicap in a few hours from now on the same card.
Watch the replay here:
