'Dave' is still king

DAVE THE KING bounced back to his best at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday when winning the same 1500m event he had won last year on his way to winning the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and Gr 1 wfa World Pool Champions Cup, the two races that landed him the Equus Horse Of The Year Award.

- DAVID THISELTON

Murray

Callan Murray took him to the front in the Class A Stakes event and played to his strength, ie. his long run in, by letting out some rein around the turn.

He entered the straight three lengths clear and if close to his best following a layoff of close to six months they were not going to catch him.

So it proved and it was left to Hollywoodbets Durban July hopeful, the Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory, to run on for a pleasing 3,20 length second with the former East Cape stalwart Cherry Ano, now trained by Wendy Whitehead, in third.

De Kock's first move after the big Global View gelding's two well below par runs in Jo'Burg last November was to move him to Summerveld, which he prefers, and he then consulted with a top trainer and veterinarian in the USA, on the recommendation of Gary Barber, about his breathing issue.

They worked it out and took it from there.

Owners Larry Nestadt, Gary Player and the Ralphs Family can now look forward to another Gr 1 Champions Season campaign.