CALL TO UNITE romped home in the Settlers Trophy at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday under a perfectly timed ride by Rachel Venniker. The Justin Snaith trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding out of Siren’s Call, made an early move to go well clear midway down the straight and kept rolling to defeat stable companion, RAPIDASH.
CALL TO UNITE has now won all three of his races at Hollywoodbets Durbanville (from six tries), and the fast- running track suited his preferred stalk and pounce tactics. The winner’s final time was merely a tick outside the 2000m course record.
Venniker did well to slipstream hard tugger, PONTE PIETRA, who pulled his way into the lead to set brisk fractions before compounding. Once she asked the smooth striding gelding to quicken it was race over. This is jockey Venniker’s first victory at the country course.
Snaith complimented her for figuring things out at this awkward circuit; the highly professional Venniker walked the course this morning to visualise the correct strategy. And her execution could not have been any better.
RAPIDASH made a bold move on the turn, but despite concerted urgings from Grant van Niekerk could not make significant inroads. ALLEZ MORIS came in third after staying on solidly from midfield. Another Snaith entry, NAVY STRENGTH, rounded out the Quartet.
As it turned out, the Settlers set up ideally for CALL TO UNITE. His pace-pressing running style, course preference and light weight (52kg) proved a perfect match.
“This was the right race for him, and we will take the money with both hands,” said a justifiably satisfied Snaith as the stable master plan came together. He intimated that a dip at the Algoa Cup at Fairview could be a possibility for CALL TO UNITE’s 10th career start.
