SA Triple Crown bridesmaid Surcharge has got to be the most deserving Gr1 winner all season and the Varsfontein-bred colt finally put a grand performance together as he overcame the odds to win the R2 million Daily News 2000 at Greyville on Saturday.
Bedevilled by wide draws and late arrivals, the son of Gimmethegreenlight ran second in all three legs of the big Gauteng series and he frankly looked to have it all to do on the Greyville circuit.
Gunter Wrogemann gets down low as Surcharge storms hom – Tap O’Noth (MJ Byleveld) is in third (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
But with Gunter Wrogemann in dazzling form – he rode his 100th winner at Greyville on Wednesday – everything fell into place on a super Saturday, with Snaith favourite and Guineas winner Do It Again, failing to come up to scratch after having every chance.
The pace was genuine without being blistering, and it was the two Gauteng raiders Surcharge and Majestic Mambo, who turned on the jets from way back.
“He’s the best I have had and the best I will ever have,” raved trainer Stuart Pettigrew, who warned the opposition that his charge would be ‘even better’ as a 4yo.
Callan Murray had the enigmatic Majestic Mambo miles back – last turning for home – and the handsome son of Mambo In Seattle had a mountain to climb inside the final 300m.
He turned it on well and trainer Paul Peter was thrilled as his charge signalled a welcome form resurgence as he chased Surcharge home to be beaten 0,75 lengths. The winner clocked 124,31 secs for the 2000m.
Ian van Schalkwyk, Stuart Pettigerw and Gunter Wogemann pose for the winner’s shot (Pic – Candiese Marnewick / Gold Circle)
Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth was a quarter length back in third, burying suggestions he doesn’t stay. He will go for the Champions Cup.
Do It Again was unleashed early in the straight by Bernard Fayd’herbe. But for once the highly vaunted Cape form was hit for a six by the Gauteng stars.
Glen Kotzen’s Pack Leader finished just out of the money in fifth and showed the disadvantage of a missed run in the WSB 1900.
The rest were well beaten, with the pacesetter Alssakhra fading to last and ten lengths off.
Surcharge (4th on the July rankings before Saturday) will now be rested and won’t run again this term.
Majestic Mambo will shorten in the betting for the big one.
It may also be folly to write Do It Again off on this performance and Bernard Fayd’herbe may conserve him for a bit longer next time.
Racing for Ian van Schalkwyk, the winner was originally a vendor buy-back on the 2016 Val De Vie Yearling Sale.
Gimmethegreenlight – sire of the winner
He was then sold for R200 000 off the BSA National Yearling Sale of the same year.
He was put through the ring and bought back for R550 000 by Dusty Trail Investments off the 2016 CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale. He races in the Ian Van Schalkwyk silks.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, he is by Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the UK-bred Congestion Charge (Diktat), who was placed over 2300m from just 4 starts.
Surcharge has won 6 races with 4 places from 11 starts for stakes of R2 273 375. That figure excludes the BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus of R154 000!
Surcharge’s conquerors in the Triple Crown were the exported Monk’s Hood and Lobo’s Legend, as well Gary Alexander’s shock Derby winner Hero’s Honour. Time will tell how good they are.
And maybe a last mention for the injured Piere Strydom, who was the man at the controls before a freak accident put paid to his chances of a big win on one of his favourites. Life’s cruel!
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Gr1 Daily News 2000 (SAf-Gr1)
Greyville, South Africa, June 2, R2 million, 2000m, turf, soft, 2.04.31
1 – SURCHARGE (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Congestion Charge (GB) by Diktat (ANY). Owner Mr I F M van Schalkwyk; Breeder Varsfontein Stud; trainer ST Pettigrew; jockey G Wrogemann
2 – Majestic Mambo (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Mambo In Seattle (USA) – Regal Classic (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
3 – Tap O’ Noth (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Captain Al (SAF) – Wintersweet (SAF) by Western Winter (USA)
Margins: 0.75, 0.25, 0.25
