Dave The King to Gold Challenge

The ever consistent Dave The King, the highest rated three-time winning 4yo in South Africa, put it all together with a convincing victory in a R150 000 1500m Pinnacle Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

Running off a rating of 126, the versatile Dave The King ran a perfect prep for the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on 8 June. He probably doesn’t see out 2200m, and Sunday’s winning rider Craig Zackey confirmed that a mile is his game. Starting an 18-10 favourite, Dave The King slipped into the lead after Itsrainingwilliam had done the donkey work, and drew away at the 250m to beat The Shepherd (9-2) by 3 lengths in a time of 88,75 secs.

Dual Highveld Feature Season Award winner Royal Victory (9-2), the second of the Hollywoodbets Durban July entries to run on the day, arrived on the scene too late in third, a further half length back.

“Dave The King’s main mission is the Gold Challenge at Greyville. We’ll decide about the July after that. He is a more relaxed horse these days but I am pretty sure his best trip is around the mile,” said Mike de Kock.

Raced by Larry Nestadt, Gary Player and Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs), the Gary Player Stud bred Dave The King is a son of Ascot Stud’s Global View out of the one-time winning Jet Master mare, Touche.