There was high-drama to open the Hollywoodbets Durban July feature programme on Saturday when Gauteng raider Betula survived an objection to retain the major spoils of the first cheque in the R400 000 BSA Sales Cup for fillies.
Diego de Gouveia produced the Danon Platina filly late in the race to catch the leader Oriental Bouquet (16-1) and register a head win in a time of 79,58 secs.
Betula (Diego de Gouveia in red cap) gets up to beat Oriental Bouquet (Sean Veale) in a thriller (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The favourite Secret Identity (33-10) came on late for a half length third.
Betula survived an objection by the runner-up’s trainer Duncan Howells, but the interference appeared to happen just after the winning post. It was overruled.
A R160 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, the winner has now won 2 races with a place from 4 starts for stakes of R355 000.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, the winner is out of Danon Platina (Deep Impact) out of the Fastnet Rock mare, Boxwood Bower, an Irish-bred half-sister to Irish Oaks and Yorkkshire Oaks runner-up Venus de Milo (Duke Of Marmalade).
Stakes were paid down to sixth place with American Graffitti banking the R12 000.
The race was restricted to graduates of the 2022 BSA sales.
Watch the replay here:
