Summerveld trainer Garth Puller held the local flag high for the KZN establishment at Scottsville on Sunday. His Mogok gelding Way Of Light was in a galloping mood and caused an upset when coming home powerfully to win the R150 000 Listed The Sledgehammer.
Billy Jacobson drives Way Of Light up as It Is Written (Stuart Randolph) chases strongly down his inside
The former champion jockey has done well with relatively modest stock and his charge put a few big names to shame with an impressive win – although he got a bit lucky when the low-flying runner-up It Is Written hit traffic issues at a crucial stage of play.
With the big Cape yards now safely settled with their SA Champions Season attack, this feature has always proved a useful starting point for those with bigger fish to fry in the next few months.
The field of eleven did not lack for depth and after Dynastic Power had led for a long way, it was Way Of Light that found a clear passage down the centre under replacement rider Billy Jacobson.
The longshot grabbed the lead at the 200m as It Is Written found himself boxed in and unable to get a run.
The Kannemeyer runner eventually found a gap and flew, just failing to catch Way Of Light, who held on to win by a neck in a time of 104,70 secs.
Dynastic Power stayed in a blanket finish ahead of Night Shadow.
Only a quarter length covered the top four.
It was not a clean race in the latter stages with Night Shadow hanging in late and It Is Written baulked for a clear run between the 300m and 200m marks. A great pity as he won so well down the outside at the same course at his previous start.
Starting at 30-1 Way Of Light has proven quite consistent with 6 wins and 7 places from his 16 starts. He took his stakes earnings to R452 925.
He was bred by the late Gilbert Werner and is a son of the ever reliable Mogok out of the Argosy mare Gran Fan, who won twice.
