The Gary Alexander trained stayer, Summerhill-born The Elmo Effect sprang a surprise when he finished with a sustained run to cut down Arctica and win the R150 000 Listed Drum Star Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.

It was a sentimental victory for Alexander, who trained the feisty Gr1 galloper Drum Star, in whose honour the 1800m feature is named to his 12 wins – even though the lesser fancied one of the stable coupling came up.

Van Der Merwe had The Elmo Effect relaxed in midfield as regular pacemaker Stonehenge led Arctica and Mans Inn for home.

At the 400m, S’manga Khumalo gave Arctica his head and the son of Captain Al dashed past Stonehenge – but started hanging out badly. At the 300m, he crossed in front of Rathmor Stud-bred Romany Prince, who was making what looked to be a dangerous run.

All the while, The Elmo Effect was winding up and enjoying the pressure, he came forward down the inside to challenge – with JP van der Merwe switching whip hands from left to right, and sensibly pushing with his hands, despite the line looming fast, and the danger of the horse down the outside.

With Arctica having wasted lengths and caused some havoc, The Elmo Effect came charging down the inside under an inspired ride to win by 0,80 lengths. The winning time was a decent 109,55 secs.

Last year’s winner Romany Prince was a bit unlucky late behind Arctica – but was not disgraced with his very honest 2,05 length fourth.

A winner of five races with 11 places from 30 starts, The Elmo Effect took his earnings to R488 375 with this win and is bound to enjoy the more testing staying features that lie ahead. This is the second feature win for the son of Admire Main, who also took home the Java Handicap Listed over 2450m.

The Elmo Effect was a R225 000 2013 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale graduate.

Bred by Taryn Liebenburg and Annet Becker of Summerhill Stud, he is a son of Admire Main out of the one-time winning Northern Guest mare, Dream Starling. This is the third Bold Black Type horse for the dam, after she produced Gr2 Gauteng Guineas winner, Heaps Of Fun and Gr3 placed Cookie Monster. Her other daughter Red Spirit in turn has produced two winners – including Gr3 placed Newton Power for Bush Hill Stud.

This is an exceptional KZN-based damline that has produced the likes of Trademark, In The Fast Lane, Light The Lights, Visuality and full sisters – Clifton Stud-bred Print The Pounds and Duffi’s Call.

The Elmo Effect is owned by Messrs Pravin Chetty & H B Odendaal.

– sportingpost.co.za

KZN-breds had significant success at Turffontein yesterday, with sons of Admire Main, Just As Well and Toreador all winning on the big day.

The Elmo Effect won the Java Handicap Listed at Turffontein, and is a five year old son of Admire Main out of Dream Starling. Ridden by Craig Zackey to a quarter of a length victory over 2450m, the Summerhill-bred gelding is a half-brother to Gr2 winner Heaps Of Fun, out of Dream Starling by Northern Guest, owned by Messrs Pravin Chetty & H B Odendaal and trained by Gary Alexander. This is his fourth career win to date, with 10 places earned and over R350 000 in the bank.

The Elmo Effect sold in 2013 for R225 000 at the BSA Ready To Run Sale. Dream Starling is a three parts sister to First Arrival, the dam of In The Fast Lane. Second dam is the speedy Clifton Queen, whilst The Elmo Effect’s half-brother includes Gr3 placed Cookie Monster.

The Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup presented by CTS threw a surprise when Michael Leaf’s Just As Well three year old gelding, swooped to victory ahead of Africa Rising in the R2,5million race. Chili Con Carne jumped from draw one under Gavin Lerena to win by over a length from Sean Tarry’s KZN-bred son of Visionaire, Africa Rising. The good looking Chilli Con Carne, trained by Lucky Houdalakis, is out of Windrush mare Wonder Glow, an unraced dam of three foals from the damline of sire Ribofolio, Champion Filly Up The Creek and Valley Dancer.

From limited books of mares, Just As Well has impressed with his progeny winning and placing consistently from small numbers. Just As Well, first past the winners post in a Canadian Gr1 and a consistent globe-trotting money earner, finished on a winners to runners percentage of 40.7% last season from 27 runners.  Just As Well, by AP Indy out of a Gr1 winning mare by Nureyev, stands at Spring Valley Stud and is owned in partnership with majority shareholder Roski Stud. Affectionately known as Jaws, Just As Well descends from the female line of sires E Dubai and Raven’s Pass.

Ever consistent Bush Hill sire Toreador saw his Gr3 winning son Bull Valley take the accolades in the Golden Loom Listed Handicap over 1000m. Jumping from draw 13 under S’manga Khumalo, the gelding notched up his fourth career win from just six starts (including a win previously in the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint), defeating Tar Heel (Var) and Africa Rising (Trippi) in the process. A R180 000 National Yearling Sales graduate who has doubled his sales price in stakes, he is owned by PCS (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr P Botha) & Messrs G L Blank, Z L Nassif, G Nichas & J Sarkis and trained by national champion trainer, Sean Tarry.

Well done to all concerned, and a very successful racing day for KZN.