Dave The King fights off pretenders

It wasn't as easy as last year when putting lengths between himself and the opposition, but Dave The King held onto his crown when winning the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

- ANDREW HARRISON

Challenged from all sides over the final furlong, Callan Murray kept his mount hard to his task to hold off game pacemaker Oriental Charm with a late charging Gladatorian denied in the shadow of the post with Cosmic Charm weakening late but less than a length behind Dave The King.

De Kock

It was the first Gr1 win for Mathew de Kock since his return from Australia and joining in partnership with his legendary father, Mike.

For Murray it has been a great return to his home country after a spell Down Under and he gave Dave The King a copybook ride in spite of it being a close run thing at the wire.

JP Van der Merwe wasted no time on Oriental Charm jumping from his wide draw of nine and heading straight for the lead where he slowed up the early gallop with Café Culture close on his heels and Dave The King perfectly placed on the rail but probably suited a quicker gallop up front as Murray eluded to in his post-race interview.