Aussie Grabs The Gold
After a testing start to the big day, Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie pulled one back when Royal Aussie won the inaugural running of the R7,5 million World Sports Betting Gold Rush at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Klawervlei-bred Royal Aussie is a son of Royal Mo (USA) and was originally pinhooked for R300 000 at the 2021 Cape Premier Sale by Grant Knowles and then sold at the Ready To Run Sale.
He races for Suzette and Basie Viljoen and Dr Jill Warner in partnership with Australian-based Dane Squance.
The 3yo became the richest non-stakes winner in South Africa as his earnings rocketed to R5 291 050 with his third victory from just eight starts.
After tracking the leaders Asiye Phambili and Winter Greeting, Fourie had Royal Aussie in full flight up the outside, with the omnipresent Christophe Soumillon producing the widely drawn Dave The King challenging into a tight looking gap between the eventual winner and the rail.
But there was no question about who was in control and the consistent Royal Aussie (33-10) went on to strongly to beat Dave The King (4-1) in a time of 98,14 secs.
Piere Strydom produced the winner’s stable Itsrainingwilliam (40-1) for third and a R600 000 cheque.
King Regent (7-2) started tote favourite and was a half length back, banking R500 000, with yet another Snaith charge in Triple Time (40-1) getting his share, his fifth place earning Nic Jonsson R400 000.
All grooms in the 1600m race received a R10 000 cheque, with the winning groom Lucky awarded R50 000, courtesy of World Sports Betting. The winning owners then double the elated Lucky’s bonus, giving him the richest raceday payday of his career!
