Finishing in a Rush hurries to victory

VEREENIGING – In a Rush won the richest horse racing event on sand in Africa, when he finished well ahead of the rest of the field in the Emerald Cup.

The event carried a total prize money of R600 000 and was held at the Vaal Race course on Saturday September 28. The race was run over 1 450m on the Vaal sand track. The event heralds the start of Phumelela’s major events of the racing season.

Jockey Fransie Herholdt steered the Port Elizabeth based horse, In A Rush, to a well-deserved win in front of favourite Pylon with Gavin Lerena on his back. Uncle Tommy took the third place with Kevin Shea.

Port Elizabeth trainer Gavin Smith travelled a long way with a horse who has never raced on this surface, to win Africa’s richest race on sand to win the R600 000 Grade 2 Emerald Cup..

An elated winning jockey Fransie Herholdt said that his mount had done everything required of him. “It is a tricky track, but I knew that if he takes to it from the 1 draw, he would go well. He is a big burly horse and was always travelling well. He got a little tired at the end, which is hardly surprising,” he said with a broad smile.

Trainer Gavin Smith indicated that In A Rush had always worked well on the sand and said that everything fell into place when they drew well. He confirmed that his charge had travelled very well and that the plan had come together beautifully.

A record crowd of more than 10 400 spectators turned up to watch the annual Emerald Cup.