Justin Snaith picked up his fifth Woolavington 2000 and the opening Gr1 contest of the 2022 SA Champions Season, when the lightly raced Silver Darling stormed to victory to give Drakenstein Stud a glorious 1-2 in the prestigious contest at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
In something of an ironic champagne moment following the non appearance, for veterinary reasons, of the top farm’s SA Triple Tiara champion Rain In Holland, the Drakenstein Stud-team race and bred the top two finishers, Silver Darling and Light Of The Moon – the latter from the raiding Botes/Vosloo yard.
Grant van Niekerk guides Silver Darling to win – third placed Sprinkles (Warren Kennedy) stays on for third (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Following in the hoofprints of esteemed stablemates In The Fast Lane (2014), Bela-Bela (2016), Oh Susanna (2018) and Silvano’s Pride (2019), Silver Darling was given a beautifully-judged ride by Drakenstein jockey, Grant van Niekerk.
After Monashada had led at another pedestrian pace, Grant van Niekerk produced the slightly green Silver Darling (4-1) down the centre with a sustained late run.
Chased by the well-supported Light Of The Moon (4-1), the Cape raider carried too many guns and went on powerfully in an all Drakenstein-blue finish to win by 1,30 lengths in a time of 126,07 secs.
Paul Peter’s Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Sprinkles (5-1), carrying the quarter cup blinkers first time, ran on well for third from wide outside a further 0,15 lengths back.
The other two Hollywoodbets Durban July entries Perfect Witness and Marigold Hotel ran out of the money.
Jockey Grant van Niekerk said that the last time Silver Darling had encountered trouble.
“We didn’t know if she was good enough. But she has done really well,” he added.
Justin Snaith thanked Summerveld Centre Manager, Tony Rivalland.
“He does a terrific job in KZN. And then to Gaynor Rupert – it’s not easy to decide which mares need to be sent to which stallions. But here she bred a horse for the Woolavington – and she achieved it. Well done to Drakenstein – all I applied were the finishing touches,” he added.
A daughter of deceased multiple SA Champion sire Silvano (Lomitas) out of the versatile seven-time winning Jet Master mare Jet Belle, who won from 1160m to 2000m, Silver Darling was registering her maiden graded stakes score and had not distinguished herself at her only previous try at 2000m in the Ardmore Jamaica Handicap during the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate festival earlier this year.
She has now won 4 races with 3 places from 9 starts for stakes of R633 600.
Watch the replay here:
