Marwing grabs third SA Derby winner

Jack Milner

Some unfamiliar faces among the training ranks came away with feature-race honours at Turffontein on Saturday.

Trainer Weiho Marwing claimed the R1.5-million World Sport Betting SA Derby with Son Of Raj, who went off at 5-1.

Perfectly ridden by Keagan de Melo the Duke Of Marmalade gelding raced handily the whole way, hit the front early in the straight and went off to beat 2-1 favourite Billy Bowlegs by 2.25 lengths with the same distance back to Rule By Force (10-1) in third.

There was not much pace in the Derby and De Melo cleverly kept his mount on the heels of front-running River Romeo.

“My instructions were to go forward and I got a little bit lucky to get into a position where I wasn’t doing it too hard,” said De Melo.

“He quickened well up the straight and the rest is history.

“He’s a superb horse, improving at a good rate and I’m looking forward to see what he will do in the future.”

Son Of Raj became the first horse since Legal Eagle to claim the Listed Derby Trial and the Grade 1 Derby double.

It was also Marwing’s third Derby success, having won it in 2013 with Wylie Hall and 2019 with outsider Samurai Warrior, who ended up as a chance ride for Piere Strydom.

Lucky Houdalakis claimed the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks with None Other, this one ridden by a very in-form Richard Fourie, who came away with a four-timer at the meeting.

Bless My Stars went off as the 5-2 favourite but after sitting last turning for home, never looked like getting to grips with the leading bunch.

Halfway up the straight it looked as if Piere Strydom was going to sneak it again with Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Lady Of Power but she was caught in the final 200m first by None Other, who started at 4-1, and then by a fast-finishing Reny (20-1) with Bless My Stars in fourth, beaten 5.75 lengths.

“She was fairly easy out of the pens,” said Fourie. “I didn’t have cover for much of the early stages but then Silver Hills came around so I got a good lead.

“She’s a small filly so I sat a bit longer up the straight and I built up from there to the 300m and then there was a lot more in the tank.”

Interestingly, Mary Slack owns and bred the daughter of Flower Alley and was on course to both present and receive the trophy recently renamed in her mother’s honour.

Candice Bass-Robinson was delighted the trip up to Joburg paid off as Trip Of Fortune claimed the R1-million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m, earning his first Grade 1 victory.

Ridden by Aldo Domeyer, he took the lead some 250m from home to get the better of a rejuvenated MK’s Pride and went on to win by 1.25 lengths. Third place went to Anfields Rocket with Under Your Spell in fourth.

“We arrived here on Thursday and he travelled really well,” said Bass-Robinson. “There’s not much for him in Durban this season but he will stay up in Joburg for two weeks and then travel to KwaZulu-Natal.

“His next race will probably be the Gold Challenge.”