Trainer Charles Laird had been quietly confident all week that the Jay Peg colt Exit Here would run a big race with a decent ride in Saturday’s R250 000 Gr3 Cup Trial. Judging from the price, very few listened and the 3yo produced the major shock of the day to upstage some Vodacom Durban July hopefuls.
Weichong Marwing drives Exit Here strongly to withstand a late challenge from Dynamic
The Moutonshoek – bred Exit Here was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July just three days after a dull effort when way downfield behind Black Arthur in the KZN Guineas.
Weichong Marwing – strong rider
Prior to that he had run stone last in the Gr3 Kings Cup. Laird was clear in the build up to the Cup Trial that he blamed the jockeys for allowing his charge to run too freely in both of those starts.
So anybody who listened may have taken a touch of the 20-1 or the R31 win (R7-90 a place) available on the tote on Saturday and would be smiling – even though passionate owner Alesh Naidoo, whose Fire Racing Trust silks were in the Gatecrasher Stakes winner’s box earlier, was obviously not one of them.
Weichong Marwing is the man for the big day and he rode a pearler, dictating the gallop on a relaxed Exit Here, ahead of Halve The Deficit and Gold Onyx.
Into the straight they fanned out and Exit Here looked to be under severe pressure as the challenges came from all sides, with Dynamic looking very dangerous on his inside.
Justin Snaith’s Dynasty gelding looked to head Exit Here in the final 150m but was not quite good enough to go past and he is likely to be relegated to one of the supporting features on July day.
Charles Laird – saddled feature winner
Exit Here stayed on strongly to win by a quarter length in a time of 110,25 secs.
The Conglomerate came on strongly late to grab third, but an objection by Duncan Howells on behalf of fourth placed Saratoga Dancer, on the grounds of intimidation in the latter stages, saw the placings reversed.
The Conglomerate is another that has probably not done quite enough to be get into the July.
Master’s Eye plodded in the straight but stayed on for fifth and could be more effective over 400m further, while It Is Written came from miles back and stayed on into sixth place.
Exit Here has now won 6 races with 2 places from 11 starts and took his stakes earnings to R933 094.
Exit Here is a R1,1 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2 graduate. He was bred by Moutonshoek and is a son of Jay Peg out of the unraced Jet Master mare, Summer Angel – which makes him a half brother to the well perfomed Eventual Angel, who ran unplaced in the Tibouchina Stakes, a half hour earlier.
Exit Here has earned a guaranteed ticket into the Gr1 Champions Cup on Super Saturday, courtesy of this victory.
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Gr3 Cup Trial (SAf-Gr3)
Greyville, South Africa, June 11, R250k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.50.52
1 – EXIT HERE (SAF), 56.5, ch c 3, Jay Peg (SAF) – Summer Angel (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner The Fire Racing Trust (Nom : Mr Alesh Naidoo) & Mr M J Jooste; Breeder Moutonshoek; trainer CS Laird; jockey Wei Marwing
2 – Dynamic (SAF), 55.5, b g 6, Dynasty (SAF) – Lanquid Lady (USA) by Theatrical (IRE)
3 – Saratoga Dancer (SAF), 54.0, b g 4, Mambo In Seattle (USA) – Super Elle (SAF) by Model Man (SAF)
Margins: 0.25, 1.10, -0.10
