Wavin’ Flag flying high in Gold Cup

From an unwanted yearling to a Gr.1 winner. Wavin’ Flag made the transition look easy as he stormed up the inside running rail to landed the R1 250 000, Gr1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday. Having purchased Wavin’ Flag as a weanling, a grooms’ co-operative consigned the Silvano colt at the National Yearling Sale, but he failed to reach his reserve. It took almost a year for Wavin’ Flag to finally acquire some owners, but it certainly did not stop him from winning South Africa’s premier staying race.

Glen Hatt settled the Brett Crawford trained Wavin’ Flag midfield and out of trouble as the lack of pace had runners jostling for position up front. Canterbury Tale (Weichong Marwing) led the field past the stand for the first time, while favourite Hot Ticket(Karl Neisius) was shunted to the rear in the rough run race. Coming into the home straight Canterbury Tale still had the advantage, but Wild One( Anthony Delpech) was close on his heels and Hatt sent Wavin’ Flag forward to join the fray.

Avoiding the battle up front, Gold Onyx(NZ) under a masterful ride by Piere Strydom, slipped quietly up the standside rail and into the lead. Sadly, it was not for long, as Wavin’ Flag and Wild One regained the lead, before a determined Hatt drove Wavin’ Flag into the lead and over the line. Wild One finished in second, half a length back with Gold Onyx in third and Hot Ticket a long way back in fourth. The winning time was 3.24.22 on the Good track with the official margins 0.5L, 0.1L and 2.25L.

“He had a reserve of R200 000 but no one wanted him,” said Grant Knowles, one of the many co-owners. “So I bought him back but we still had trouble putting a syndicate together. There was nothing wrong with him, just that he was a typical Silvano yearling – a bit plain.”


By Silvano out of the Capture Him(USA) mare Garland, Wavin’ Flag was recording only his third victory and first Graded victory for owners Messrs S D Burgess, G S Knowles, J Labuschagne, I W Longmore, I Robinson, A Todd and Mrs J Crawford.

The dust had barely settled, before Crawford and Hatt teamed up again for a quick double as Futura cantered home in the R1 million, Gr1 Beach Beauty Champions Cup over 1800m. The brilliant mare Beach Beauty, retired and soon off to stud, led the parade for the Champions Cup, but it was Crawford and Hatt who stole the show.

Hatt employed similar tactics as on Wavin’ Flag, giving Futura a clear run up the inside rail and the colt responded with a strong finish, sending him well clear of the rest of the field. Hatt had time to glance over his shoulder, before celebrating, as he crossed the line. King Of Pain ran on late for second with No Worries staying on for third. The official margins were 1.75L and 1L on the Good track.

The two Juvenile Gr. 1’s earlier in the day both produced thrilling finishes as the Duncan Howell’s trained Same Jurisdiction(Kevin Shea) and Sean Tarry’s Carry On Alice(S’Manga Khumalo) fought a head bobbing duel to the line in the R600 000, Gr. 1Thekwini Stakes(1600m) with the nod eventually going to Same Jurisdiction. In the colts’ equivalent, the R600 000 Gr.1 Premiers Champion Stakes(1600m), the race looked done and dusted as Anjaal(AUS) (Anthony Delpech) cruised home up the standside rail. Harry’s Son(AUS) and Piere Strydom however, had other ideas and the colt flew home to snatch victory on the line from a fast finishing Jayed (Bernard Fayd’Herbe), while Anjaal and MLJet (M J Byleveld) dead-heated for third.


ThoroughbredNEWS media release on behalf of Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd for the 2014 Champions Season.