PEARL OF ASIA SPRINTS HOME

The category of Equus Champion Sprinter was blown wide open as Pearl Of Asia caused a major boil over in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint with hot favourite Rio Querari finishing a well beaten fourth, the minor placings going to Al Sakeet, MK’S Pride and Ultra Magnus. The field spread across the track in the charge for home with Ultra Magnus and MK’S Pride going hammer and tongs up the inside rail and Rio Querari making steady progress up the centre.

However, Serino Moodley must have felt like Moses facing the Red Sea as the field parted and he got a perfect passage through accompanied by Al Sakeet. The opposition was treading water over the final furlong as the pair scythed through to the line.

Pearl Of Asia was Moodley’s first Grade 1 winner and was a tonic for trainer Robbie Hill who has been battling Covid for the past two weeks.

Gr1 Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Champions Cup

Newly crowned Champion Trainer Justin Snaith, after a day of disappointments, had his fortunes turn as Jet Dark came alive under S’manga Khumalo to win the Gr1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup. Second was Catch Twentytwo with Do It

Again running another game race in third after a coming together with Got The Greenlight halfway up the home straight. Jet Dark, after victory in the Gr1 L’ormarins Queen’s Plate beating Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again, disappointed in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge run in mid-june.

“This horse looks the part. You don’t fluke the L’ormarins Queen’s Plate. It’s not a race that you win by chance. You have to beat a lot of top, top horses and his first run back he just needed the outing.

I had to gallop him at Scottsville and he jarred himself up. I was just so glad that we got him 100% for this race.”

Gr3 Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup

Nebraas confirmed the form of the Gr3 Dstv Gold Vase when holding off a late challenge from a game Silver Host with Out Of Your League in third ahead of Before Noon in fourth.

Hewitson rode a faultless race, aiming for the apex of the first bend and slotting in nicely two off the pace. Well placed, Nebraas was turned loose at the top of the straight and went clear of the chasing pack.

Silver Host was one from last turning for home and took a bump crossing the subway but had turned on the

afterburners. He only went down by a neck, the 5.5kg swing in the weights possibly the difference between the two.

“It’s amazing how racing can be,” said Hewitson. “You saw my Group one winner when everything went wrong in the space of 100m and she got me out of the fire and got up on the line and then this race that went absolutely perfect and he won well.”

Gr1 Thekwini Stakes

Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson leaves these shores next week to take up a contract in Japan and he can put the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes on his CV after a cracking ride on hot favourite Rain In Holland.

All appeared to be going smoothly until the top of the straight. “In the space of 200m everything’s gone from smooth to terrible and only very smart horses can get you out of trouble from there,” said Hewitson.

Sean Tarry concurred. “The way the race panned out they went way too slow and she’s a staying type filly and when everything quickened up, I knew she would be in trouble. But testament to her ability she pulled it out of the flames.” Rain In Holland snatched it on the line with Kailene and Supreme Quest two short-heads back.

Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes

Good Traveller shrugged off a couple of hard luck races to run out a comfortable winner of the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes. Grant van Niekerk bounced him out of the gate and was quickly onto the fence. From there on it was plain sailing for Glen Kotzen’s runner who finished well clear of rank outsider Honokalani who just got the better of William Robertson in a driving finish for the minor placings. “I was in the perfect position and everything worked in my favour from my 13 draw. From there it was pretty simple and straight forward,” concluded Van Niekerk.