Comeback Kid Mark Khan defied fitness doubts and the generous betting odds to grab his fourth SA Derby winner when steering longshot Hero’s Honour home for Gary Alexander in the R2 million Gr1 SA Derby at Turffontein on Saturday.
Mark Khan and Hero’s Honour are clear of the pack (Pic – JC Photos)
A five-times SA champion jockey, Khan was having his first Gr1 ride in over 7 years when throwing a leg over Hero’s Honour as he turned back time and made a mockery of age and battle scars – and that after retiring from the saddle in 2010.
Khan returned to race riding in August last year, hurt a knee while work riding and was off for six months from the end of October. This was his first win since his recent return to riding.
A maiden winner, Hero’s Honour was trying the 2450m for the first time on Saturday and taking on some big guns. But he produced the goods to give Gary Alexander his third SA Derby success and the jockey-trainer combination a second after Timber Trader won the race in 2002.
Mark Khan – nice comeback win
Khan had Hero’s Honour relaxed in fifth as Walter Smoothie and Gambado showed the way all the way around. At the 400m, Aldo Domeyer produced Ashley Fortune’s Cash Time down the centre with what looked to be a winning surge. But Hero’s Honour slipped down the rail and took command as Surcharge and Noble Secret took off late.
At the line, the multiple champion jockey had judged it to perfection and the 55-1 shot Hero’s Honour registered an impressive win by 1,50 lengths in a time of 155,09.
Surcharge rounded off a perfect SA Triple Crown consolation – banking a second cheque in all three legs, with the De Kock runner Noble Secret a further quarter length back in third.
Cash Time was a neck back in fourth and only tired late in the race.
Majestic Mambo, ridden by sub Keagan De Melo, finished ninth and just under 5 lengths off the winner. He was all over the place again, first looking outside and then going to the rail for a run.
Gary Alexander – third SA Derby winner
Hero’s Honour was a first Gr1 winner for Lawrence and Jarryd Wernars, whose familiar white, red and black silks are seen across the country.
A R300 000 2016 CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale graduate, Hero’s Honour has won 2 races with 2 places from 6 starts for stakes of R1 354 600.
Bred by Summerhill, the winner is by Await The Dawn – a son of Giant’s Causeway who stood for less than two years at Summerhill Stud before he died of a heart attack in October 2014,
Hero’s Honour is out of the versatile four-time winner Grail Maiden (Galileo), who won from 1200m to 2400m, and no doubt imparted her staying genes to her son.
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Gr1 SA Derby (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, May 5, R2 million, 2450m, turf, good, 2.35.09
1 – HERO’S HONOUR (SAF), 60.0, b g 3, Await The Dawn (USA) – Grail Maiden (AUS) by Galileo (IRE). Owner Messrs J F & L M F Wernars, B G Gardner & G P Sadie & Mrs J P Gardner; Breeder Summerhill Stud; trainer GM Alexander; jockey M Khan
2 – Surcharge (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Congestion Charge (GB) by Diktat (ANY)
3 – Noble Secret (SAF), 60.0, b g 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Arabian Secret (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
Margins: 1.50, 0.25, 0.10
