The Riverton-bred Pearl Of Asia benefitted from another top ride by the full-of-confidence Donovan Dillon when sweeping to a convincing victory in Sunday’s R75 000 Marula Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Dillon rounded off a hat-trick of wins on the sunny Pietermaritzburg afternoon, and again vindicated his January jockey travel protocols decision to opt for a bread-and-butter menu at home in KZN, rather than stand in an illustrious queue and restrict himself to a potential few dips at richer offerings down in the Cape.
Donovan Dillon has matters under control as Pearl Of Asia runs on strongly (Pic -Candiese Lenferna)
And the ride on the weak joint tote favourite was relatively straightforward as the speed stampede in front allowed him to settle the talented Robbie and Shannon Hill-trained Pearl Of Asia on an inside track on the straight sprint course.
When Dillon called on his mount for the effort, Pearl Of Asia (7-1) accelerated powerfully and in good style to beat the consistent Good Rhythm (15-2) in a time of 68,18 secs for the 1200m.
Absent owner Gerald Kalil must have been shouting this one home!
Showing plenty of pace, Ziva La Winter (25-1) stayed on well for third a further half length back to boost the trifecta and quartet, and in so doing pipped the low-flying joint tote favourite Hard To Play (9-2) out of the place accumulator combinations.
Bred by Riverton, the winner is a son of Ridgemont’s Sandown-based Distorted Humor stallion Pathfork out of the one-time winning (and placed 16 times) Tiger Ridge mare, Asiatic Pearl. The mare is a half-sister to the Dennis Drier-trained Cape Merchants winner, Triptique. This family hails back to Arcsa Champion Broodmare, First Lisa.
Pearl Of Asia was bought for R35 000 by Hill Racing off the 2018 BSA KZN Yearling Sale.
The 4yo gelding took his earnings to R279 625 with his fifth win and 1 place from 12 starts.
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