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After a week of torrential rain that flooded the track, caused the cancellation of three meetings and led to very soft conditions, the Listed Michaelmas Handicap went ahead as scheduled at Greyville on Friday night.
Photo by Gold Circle
Three days of sunshine meant the field jumped from the 1900m mark under a clear starry sky and the soft conditions were temporarily forgotten.
The race started as it ended, with a stampede of 16 runners fanned out across the track. Predestination (AUS) eventually won the battle for the lead, with Hold The Gold, Danish Silver and Bay Route on his tail.
The favourite Sage Throne had to settle for fourth, but was racing three wide and Muzi Yeni never managed to tuck the gelding in. Kolkata and Storm Sagaz, raced midfield avoiding the bun fight at the front.
Coming round the final bend, Hold The Gold finally wrestled the lead from Predestination, with Sage Throne still stuck out three wide, next to Danish Silver.
The long Greyville run in (500m) however started to tell on the leaders and at the 200m mark, the field had caught up with them and was again spread out over the course, with any of a dozen horses capable of winning.
The honours finally went to the Yogas Govender trained Storm Sagaz, who managed to get his neck in front of a fast finishing Kolkata, with Rapid Flow and Saltwater Girl in a blanket finish behind, filling the minor places.
While Storm Sagaz was expected to handle the soft under foot conditions, it was a good run from Kolkata, who found the distance a tad sharp and is one to follow in his next start.
Earlier in the evening Silver Flyer from the De Kock yard confirmed his early promise by winning a Merit Rated 95 Handicap comfortably by 2.75 lengths under Anthony Delpech. The Silvano colt has now won two races from 4 starts and is certainly one to follow during the summer season.
Results
13 STORM SAGAZ (ARG) Jarred Samuel 53.5 0.00 120.32 10/15 KOLKATA Robbie Fradd 57.0 0.25 120.37 9/2
11 RAPID FLOW Ian Sturgeon 55.0 0.30 120.38 25/115 SALTWATER GIRL Ryan Curling *1.5 53.0 0.35 120.39 16/1
7 HOLD THE GOLD Stuart Randolph 55.5 1.35 120.58 12/16 DANISH SILVER Sean Veale 57.0 1.60 120.63 9/2