The classy Royal Aussie looked the right one in the R250 000 Pongracz Listed Jet Master Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and duly delivered the goods after a minor knockout in the Pick 6 opening leg.
Royal Aussie (Grant van Niekerk) charges clear for a popular win (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
With the carryover of R500 000 producing a nett R3 215 219 Pick 6 pool on the final day of the Cape Summer Of Champions Season, Royal Aussie righted the ship for punters and was a popular 9-4 winner when Grant van Niekerk produced him with a confidence-boosting late rattle to win going away in a time of 102,09 secs.
The filly Gold Poker Game (16-1) finished with fire to pip Ponte Pietra (10-1) and Quasiforsure (3-1) in a blanket finish for the quartet money.
After Royal Aussie had earned a rating of 124 following his third behind Charles Dickens in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate back in January, trainer Justin Snaith found the right race for the inaugural Gold Rush winner before his string departs early for the East Coast and the ‘national championships’.
Royal Aussie races for Suzette and Basie Viljoen and Dr Jill Warner in partnership with Australian-based Dane Squance, and took his earnings on Saturday to R5 813 551 at his 5th win with 9 places from 17 starts.
The Klawervlei-bred gelding is a son of Royal Mo (USA) out of the unraced Aussie-bred Smart Missile mare Abelia.
The winner was originally pinhooked for R300 000 at the 2021 Cape Premier Sale by Grant Knowles and then sold at the Ready To Run Sale.
So it was a good afternoon for the astute Mr Knowles, who was also involved in the pinhook of the earlier Cape Nursery winner, One Stripe.
Enjoy the replay:
