Summerveld trainer Tony Rivalland broke the seven year stranglehold of visiting horses on the Gr3 Byerley Turk when the lightly raced Tristful charged home in the R250 000 feature at Greyville on Sunday to maintain his promising formline.
We have to go back all the way to 2011 when Dennis Drier’s Phantom Fighter had his name inscribed on the trophy as a KZN-based horse. And there was understandable tangible excitement on Sunday – even talk of Gr1 aspirations – when Rivalland and his long-time owner Mary Liley accepted the accolades.
Sean Veale punches the air in delight as Tristful flies past Gareth Wright and Solid Gold (Pic – Anneke Kitching / Gold Circle)
Glancing at the honour roll over the years, we can understand their excitement with the likes of past Capetown Noir and Undercover Agent having gone on to higher honours in recent years.
Sean Veale rode a confident race on the 4-1 Tristful as they tracked the leader Solid Gold. Gareth Wright also rode a clever race on the pacesetter – slowing the pace up and looking to have pulled off a major surprise as they went through the 250m.
But Sean Veale knows that Tristful is loaded with ability and shook his mount up with a light smack.
The handsome gelding took off and won going away by 1,10 lengths in a time of 85,19 secs – notably slower than the girls’ equivalent run a half hour earlier.
Solid Gold never let up trying all the way to the wire and he looks one worth following as does third placed Triple Fate Line, who finished 1,60 lengths further back.
The favourite Thanksgiving was left with quite a bit to do off the muddling pace but came on late to grab fourth. He will be better over further.
A R250 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate, the winner was bred by Gary Player Stud from the champion Trippi (End Sweep) out of the one-time winning Jet Master mare, Hear The Rain.
He has won 3 races with 1 place from 5 starts for stakes of R312 800.
Both winning jockey and trainer appeared to agree that we will see the best from Tristful when he goes 2000m.
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Gr3 Byerley Turk (SAf-Gr3)
Greyville, South Africa, April 7, R250k, 1400m, turf, soft, 1.25.19
1 – TRISTFUL (SAF), 60.0, b g 3, Trippi (USA) – Hear The Rain (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner Mrs M D J Liley; Breeder Gary Player Stud; trainer AJ Rivalland; jockey S Veale
2 – Solid Gold (SAF), 60.0, ch g 3, Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) – Penny’s Gold (USA) by Kingmambo (USA)
3 – Triple Fate Line (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Master Of My Fate (SAF) – Tina’s Trip (SAF) by Trippi (USA)
Margins: 1.10, 1.60, 0.35
