July winner geared up for Charity Mile

Jack Milner

While Winchester Mansion, winner of this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, will be having his first race in Joburg on Saturday, he has spent quite some time on the Highveld.

The Brett Crawford-trained son of Trippi will be making that local debut in the R1-million Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday, but he did spend a few months at Crawford’s Randjesfontein satellite yard prior to his KwaZulu-Natal campaign.

“He came to me in March,” said assistant trainer James Crawford on Wednesday. “I had him before his first run in Durban.”

He clearly relishes the high altitude because from the moment he arrived in Durban, Winchester Mansion was in top form with a close-up second in his first start followed by victory in the Cup Trial and then the Durban July.

He returned to Randjesfontein after that and for his first run back, the five-year-old gelding has been priced up as the 6-1 favourite to win Saturday’s Grade 2 race over 1600m.

“He’s very, very well,” added Crawford. “Although this race is not my main goal, on work and wellbeing he is capable of winning.

“This is just a prep run, so I just want to see him run well. But I wouldn’t be shocked if he won.”

The main goal is, of course, the R5-million Betway Summer Cup (Grade 1) over 2000m on Saturday 25 November and overall, 1600m is a touch on the short side. However, Winchester Mansion did win over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last year when racing fresh following a rest.

“On his current wellbeing, I’d be happy to run him in a 1200m,” quipped Crawford.

Winchester Mansion was penalised 5.5kg for his Durban July win so he does carry a lot more weight this time but that is no concern for Crawford. “Compare the quality of the fields. He beat See It Again in the July and there was nearly four lengths back to the fourth horse, so the weight is no concern.”

It was James who started giving rides to Kabelo Matsunyane and that saw the young jockey claim the ride on Winchester Mansion in the Durban July. “Kabelo earned it through hard work. One can even see how his riding has improved from last season to this season.

“He’s a very talented jockey, a rough diamond, he just needs a bit of polishing and he could be as good as Piere Strydom.”

Matsunyane will be back aboard Winchester Mansion on Saturday but he will need to deal with No 11 draw.