Hollywoodbets-sponsored Stuart Pettigrew’s What A Winter gelding Expressfromtheus ran on powerfully in the hands of Marco van Rensburg under joint topweight to win the R150 000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage at the Vaal on Saturday.
The Pettigrew-Van Rensburg combination won the first leg of the then R500 000 WSB Grand Heritage in 2018 with Soldier On, when the Vaal track was controversially twice not available to field the 28 horse capacity, and the two legged event was run at Turffontein.
Marco van Rensburg punches Expressfromtheus out – in his wake is third placed Spanish Boy, with Craig Zackey up (Pic-JC Photos)
Soldier On did not take up the invitation for the R250 000 match race, which was won by Dan The Lad, who beat Tsitsikamma Dance.
A race that was introduced to fill the void left by the Emerald Cup, the ‘unique’ contest has lost some of its shine and lustre through dwindling stakes that no doubt contributed to it falling over 30% short of capacity on Saturday.
But the distance of 1475m is unique and Stuart Pettigrew and owner Clive Barnard will be banking the first cheque of R90 000 with gratitude in these trying times.
Described as a very difficult horse, Van Rensburg paid tribute to Stuart Pettigrew’s training skills.
“He really has his work cut out with this fellow,” added Van Rensburg, who is riding with great fluency again.
Expressfromtheus (15-2) bounced into the lead at the 250m marker and drew away to beat Clint Binda’s soldier Whorly Whorly (17-2) by two lengths in a time of 87,37 secs.
Spanish Boy (7-1) raced a kilo overweight for the services of Craig Zackey, but stayed on well for third another three quarters back.
Mike de Kock’s 9-4 favourite Oscar Wilde was never in the hunt and ran 9 lengths downfield.
The winner is bred and raced by Clive Barnard’s Rooispruit Stud. Mr Barnard was on course to lead his winner in.
By What A Winter (Western Winter), out of the twice winning Mullins Bay mare, Stylish Bay, Expressfromtheus has now won 4 races with 7 places from 11 starts for stakes of R267 200.
