SAJA apprentice Siphesihle ‘Spare’ Hlengwa made it a flying start to 2023 when he rode a beautifully judged race to register a personal milestone as he booted the 14-1 Bella Siccome home to win the weather-delayed R100 000 Listed Christmas Handicap run under changed race conditions at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
Siphesphile Hlengwa was runner-up and earned the highest strike-rate bonus of R5000 behind SA Champion apprentice Rachel Venniker in the Hollywoodbets KZN Sizzling Summer Challenge that ended at the same venue on Friday evening, and has thus enjoyed a terrific weekend.
After tracking the equally handily weighted pacesetter Prince Of Taranto all the way around in the first of the double feature billing on Sunday, young Mr Hlengwa produced the Maine Chance- bred daughter of Silvano Bella Siccome to break the ice and register his personal first feature race victory.
‘Spare’ Hlengwa has matters under control as Bella Siccome makes it four-on-the-trot (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
It was also something of a milestone race for the Paul Lafferty-trained 4yo, who made it 4 wins on the trot and notched her first stakes success.
In a thrilling finish, Bella Siccome (14-1) hold off Prince Of Taranto (14-1) by 0,70 lengths in a time of 99,31 secs.
The Gauteng raider and favourite Pyromaniac was a lonely topweight and only got going late to snare third cheque, a half length further back.
A R120 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Bella Siccome was bred by Maine Chance and is a daughter of their late multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the well-performed Dynasty mate, Bella Spumante.
A winner of 6 races with 10 places from 17 starts, Bella Siccome has banked R387 900 in gross stakes.
Part owner and former SA footballer Neil Tovey was on course to lead the winner in.
Watch the replay here:
