Alyson Wright’s Gee Racing saw their SA Champion Season hopes lifted marginally when their 4yo Matterhorn went all the way under an inspired Lyle Hewitson ride to win the R75 000 umThombothi Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
The lightly raced 4yo, something of a Hollywoodbets Greyville specialist on his best day, was returning from a 16 week break and enjoyed a bold ride from the front by the Kuda-sponsored Hewitson, who admitted afterwards that it had been a frustrating few days.
Lyle Hewitson crouches low as Matterhorn storms home – third placed Favour (Keagan de Melo) sneaks into the frame (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“It was the kind of ride that could have been sleighted if we had gotten beat. But it’s nice to get back into the winner’s enclosure. It’s been a tough few days,” added the man who currently leads the SA jockey log with 130 winners at a near 15% strike -rate.
After being kept clear of his field from his outside barrier gate early, Hewitson had Matterhorn (3-1) relaxed in front and he was never headed, holding off a rather tame late challenge from the 16-10 favourite Share Holder over the final 100m.
The official win margin was a half length and 119,16 secs was the clock for the 1950m.
It was a well conspired tactical plan by the Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer, who had Matterhorn as fit as she coul;d have had him.
Bred by Lammerskraal, Matterhorn races in the Chung silks and boasts 4 wins and 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R229 500.
A son of Marchfield (A.P. Indy), he is out of the versatile Western Winter stakes winning mare Next Spring, who won four races from 1000m to 2000m in the red and white silks for the Rattrays. She was trained by Joey Ramsden.
Earlier in the afternoon, Yogas Govender’s consistent Toreador 6yo Filippo broke the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1000m track record when clocking 55,41 secs under 57kgs to win the third, a Pinnacle Stakes.
The bang in-form Luke Ferraris is riding the crest of a wave and did the honours on the Piemonte Stud-bred gelding.
