After a terrific strike on Saturday, Corne Spies boasts the rare achievement of a winner on Vodacom Durban July Day for three consecutive years.
“My dad had three winners on the 2019 Vodacom Durban July day. Last year we had a win with the exported Nourbese and on Saturday Supreme Quest won the BSA Sales Cup for the fillies. It was overall a great July Day experience.”
Sales race success! Corne Spies proudly shows off the trophy (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)
He went on to say that the crowds are missed terribly.
“It’s not the same without the buzz and hype of the locals cheering the horses on. But overall it was a very efficient day. The Hollywoodbets Greyville team made a lot of effort to ensure all the protocols were in place, and sanitizing and social distancing was enforced, so everything ran smoothly,” Corne says.
We taxed him on future plans for Supreme Quest.
“Our next stop will naturally be the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes at the end of the month. She is likely to stay the mile as she did the 1300m on Saturday so easily. Hollywoodbets Greyville is possibly an easier mile for her. We just hope to crack a good draw again!”
He pointed out that the alternative was a tempting one.
“The Thekwini is on Gold Cup Day and a week later there is the BSA Sales Races at Turffontein. We’re going to have to make some tough choices and decisions so it may be a bit early to say for sure what will transpire – but those are the races we have to keep in mind going forward,” he says.
Corne tells us Supreme Quest ‘really came through on July Day’.
“She settled in a nice position and didn’t drop right out as she has previously. It looks like she’s finally starting to figure out what racing is all about.”
Supreme Quest- the Thekwini could be next (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)
The team have a few runners to possibly keep an eye out for on Gold Cup Day. This includes the colt William Robertson for the Premiers Champion Stakes.
“It is unfortunately the same conundrum as Supreme Quest, with the sales races being a week later at Turffontein!”
He says that they will also look to possibly run Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Singforafa in the Mercury Sprint and Laird Of Breedon in the Premiers Champion Stakes.
“We do also have another filly or two that we may look at bringing down. There are a number of appealing races for the sprinting juveniles. We’ll be bringing down a strong contingent of horses regardless and try burgle another race or two,” he concludes with a laugh.
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