CHAD LITTLE - THE LONG WALK TO THE JOCKEY ROOM

By far the faster of the two 1900m races on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack card on Sunday was the In The Box Seat Podcast-Gallop TV Class 5 (F&M) and here the combination of Glen Kotzen and Chad Little were again on the mark when Sesame gained her third career success. Sent off favourite at 5/2, the Legislate filly raced sixth, but she was never more than three and a half lengths off the pace. Ridden to lead going through the 300m, Sesame was challenged strongly by Sweeter Than Honey 100m later and after a thrilling tussle all the way to the wire, she only got the upper hand late. After the race Sesame was reported as coughing by the vet. In terms of stake money and average merit ratings, the Tote For The Win Middle Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and in what surprisingly proved to be marginally the slower of the two races over the distance, the 4yo What A Winter filly BUTTERCUP BABY registered her fifth career victory. Swiftly guided over from the widest draw by Rachel Venniker, Wendy Whitehead’s charge led throughout. Nicely positioned in second just a length and a half behind her for most of the journey, Sovereign Grant challenged strongly over the final 200m. The well-supported second favourite (7/2 into 5/2) kept finding below the distance though and with the rest comfortably beaten, she held on to score by a half. Run in a time 19/100th of a second quicker than the Middle Stakes was the Join Passion www.racecoast.co.za C Stakes and here THE MASK, another front runner, found the winner’s enclosure. Always top of the boards, Glen Kotzen’s charge was soon in command of a length and a half advantage. He quickly drew clear at the top of the straight and went on to score with authority from Winter Waves (lost one length at start & hung out from 250m) by thee and a quarter.