Jockey Craig Zackey hasn’t enjoyed the greatest of seasons but pulled himself back on track at Scottsville on Saturday in double quick time with a peach of a confidence boosting ride to win the R250 000 Gr3 Track and Ball Oaks on the Drakenstein owned and bred Seville Orange.
Craig Zackey has Seville Orange in control as third-placed Snapscan chases under Warren Kennedy (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Trainer Lucky Houdalakis hasn’t done a lot of SA Champions Season raiding but his 3yo daughter of Duke Of Marmalade put her hand up that she may be ready for better, when running a decent third behind Return Flight in the Gr2 SA Oaks at Turffontein in early May.
Seville Orange then put in a fair effort (4th 3,55 lengths) when none of them got close to Silvano’s Pride in the Woolavington 2000 at Greyville on 1 June.
Easy to back at 8’s from her wide draw, Zackey rode her confidently here when bouncing her and taking her round the pack to show the way.
Once out front, the pair dictated matters and despite coming under pressure late in the straight, Seville Orange galloped powerfully to hold off a flying late challenge from Flichity By Farr by 1,20 lengths.
The winner’s time was 147,57 secs.
The Kotzen longshot Snapscan looked dangerous and challenged all the way up the home straight down the outside without finding the little extra – she stayed on nicely for third, a quarter length back.
The fancied Mike de Kock trained Blossom came through down the inside and ran 2,20 lengths off the winner.
A five time Gr1 winning Cartier Champion, the winner’s Drakenstein Stud resident sire Duke Of Marmalade has impressed with his first SA crop (now 3yo’s) – his most recent big score coming via his daughter Santa Clara in the Gr2 KRA Guineas.
The winner is out of the three-time Galileo mare, Serruria.
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Gr3 Track And Ball Oaks (SAf-Gr3)
Scottsville, South Africa, June 22, R250k, 2400m, turf, good, 2.27.57
1 – -SEVILLE ORANGE (SAF), 55.0, ch f 3, Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) – Serruria (GB) by Galileo (IRE). Owner Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert); Breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer M Houdalakis; jockey C Zackey
2 – Flichity By Farr (SAF), 58.0, ch f 4, Go Deputy (USA) – Flichity (SAF) by Western Winter (USA)
3 – Snapscan (SAF), 55.0, b f 3, Oratorio (IRE) – Cash Register (SAF) by Casey Tibbs (IRE)
Margins: 1.20, 0.25, 0.75
