3 minute read
The inaugural running of the CTS Million Dollar (1400m) at Kenilworth on Saturday saw the 16/1 outsider Illuminator win South Africa's richest race for the small stable of Glen Puller.
Apprentice Heavelon Van Der Hoven who only picked up the ride on Saturday morning when senior rider Weichong Marwing was forced to withdraw with back spasms.
The CTS bonus race had a field of 15 and it turned into charge over the final 200m after Jo’s Bond had led them into the long 700m straight. As with the Cape Derby earlier in the programme, when It’s My Turn and Pierre Strydom went wide on the track for the win, Van Der Hoven went to the outside for his run.
Silver Mountain was in the middle of the track being the best of the rest, but it was Illuminator and Van Der Hoven further out on the track who secured the win in the richest race in Africa and giving the 23 year-old apprentice his richest payday ever in just his ninth race win. Van Der Hoven stood tall in the irons after the line in salute.
Silver Mountain (Silvano) held second with the margin 3/4L with Victorious Day (Jay Peg) third, the margin a nose. Seventh Plain was fourth. The time was 1.26.21 on the Good rated track.
“I thought he was a big chance in a race like this, but he knows the horse so well and he rides the horse at home all the time,” said Puller.“We discussed the race before and he did exactly what he needed to do. It was a bit of a chance coming out that far, but when he has won on this horse this is how he has won, and he has won well every time.
“He winds up into his stride and he does his best work at the end of it without being pushed. He (Van Der Hoven) rode a wonderful race on him,” he said.
“You just leave him alone and he loves that. In the straight I just followed Aldo out. When I picked up my head I was two lengths behind him and I knew already I was in a winning position. I picked him up and brought him to the outside and he quickened beautifully,” said Van Der Hoven.
Illuminator, bred by Klawervlei Stud, was a R180,000 yearling purchase by Milnerton based Puller on behalf of stable clients FM Curruthers and Ian Robinson. After two wins from five starts Illuminator had earned stakes of R134,375. Saturday’s win was worth R8.39 million.