Hollywoodbets Durban July hometown entries Gladatorian and See It Again dominated the finish of the R750 000 Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes on Saturday, with a nose separating them in a thriller.
Gladatorian (Sean Veale) runs on powerfully to beat See It Again (Raymond Danielson, pink cap) in a thriller (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A traditional big season launch pad, the 1400m contest produced a grandstand finish with 0,30 lengths separating the trifecta, as Sean Veale timed things to perfection on the 5yo Gladatorian (9-2), who ran on powerfully down the centre to get the verdict over the revitalized See It Again (5-1) by a short head in a time of 84,24 secs for the 1400m.
Delighted winning Sporting Post-sponsored rider Sean Veale said that he felt he got there ‘too early’, but he knows the Stuart Ferrie charge well and things worked to a charm.
Raymond Danielson is the newly appointed jockey for See It Again, and he said that ‘another 100m we probably win it’. That will be music to the ears of trainer Michael Roberts.
Eyes on the prize! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Snaith grey Great Plains (25-2) was given every chance by Richard Fourie, and ran a meritorious 0,30 length third. His trainer said ‘he probably wins it with a gallop’.
Dean Kannemeyer was thrilled with The Real Prince (7-1), who was last turning for home and was not disgraced in a 1,35 length fourth effort.
Gladatorian is raced by a Mauritian partnership of the Late Agasthamuni Gujadhur, E G Hart de Keating, M L Jean Hardy & Gold Circle CEO Michel J L Nairac. The latter was emotional in the post-race interview, commending Hollywoodbets for what they have done for KZN racing and indicating that it was a big moment for him personally to enjoy a Gr2 success on a raceday that symbolized the start of a brand new era.
The winner was bred by Erasmus Thoroughbreds and is a genuinely versatile son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the six-time winning Dynasty mare Harvard Crimson, who was trained by Justin Snaith.
A R400 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Gladatorian is now a dual Gr2 winner, having won 9 races with 8 places from 24 starts for stakes of R1 775 651.
Beyond the exemplary showing of the top two, the race included a further three Hollywoodbets Durban July entries, some of whom delivered performances that suggested there’s hope for the big one on Saturday 5 July.
These include The Real Prince who ran from a wide gate but stayed on from last for fourth, just 1,35 lengths off the winner, Cousin Casey (5,65 lengths), and Barbaresco (8,35 lengths).
