Just weeks after registering his maiden graded stakes success in the Tab4racing Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes, Philasande Mxoli was mixing it in the big league again on Betway Summer Cup day, as he rode a confident race to win the R200 000 Joburg Tourism Gr3 Magnolia Handicap on Stuart Pettigrew’s Alula’s Star.
A man with a cool-as-cucumber demeanour, Mxoli had been competing in thoroughbred rural races since the age of thirteen and ridden in excess of 90 winners in the Eastern Cape before he joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2019.
Philasande Mxoli steers Alula’s Star to a surprise victory (Pic – JC Photos)
On Saturday he had the 4yo daughter of Red Ray settled some lengths off down the inside and unleashed her between runners at the 250m marker.
Just as the unbeaten 3yo Gobsmacked (5-2) looked to be going on to win, Alula’s Star (14-1) was in full stride and she got up late to win by 0,20 lengths in a time of 66,91 secs.
Brett Webber’s Lucy In The Sky (16-1) completed the trifecta a further 1,80 lengths back.
Hollywoodbets sponsored trainer Stuart Pettigrew said that it was onwer Ian van Schalkwyk’s call to keep the young jockey aboard for the big day feature.
A R60 000 CTS Ready To Run purchase, the winner was bred by Winterbach Stud and is a daughter of Red Ray (Western Winter) out of the six-time winning Captain Al mare Solar Voyager.
A winner of 5 races with 6 places from 15 starts, Alula’s Star has now won stakes of R486 312.
Her sire Red Ray has one lot on Sunday’s BSA November 2yo Sale.
The Pick 6 pool reached R9 668 977 and was paying over R18 minimum after this bump!
Watch the replay here:
