Savanna’s day to remember

YESTERDAY was a day that apprentice Savanna Valjalo will have etched in her memory as she scored her first official win as an apprentice aboard the Gareth van Zyl-trained K M V Retrofit in the Open Maiden on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

- ANDREW HARRISON

Always in front, she had the measure of stable companion Di Rosa and S’Manga Khumalo a long way out and such was her confidence that she cruised the last 50m under the hands.

Apprentice races are not always the easiest and coupled with a modest field of horses doesn’t make it any easier.

Purple Flower

Purple Flower was friendless in the market but she won like and odds-on shot under Mauritian apprentice Girish Dookhit. Having her first run for Gary Rich who bought the mare on an on-line sale on the advice of his daughter Tess, Dookhit tracked the pace set by Blush Of Dawn from mid-field. At the sharp end of the race, Purple Flower was always traveling smoothly as she tackled Blush Of Dawn and in spite of looking to shift in late, she won well.