Richard Fourie glances in the direction of the Bortz suite as Arion powers home (Pic: Bay Media)
Maine Chance Farms’ super stallion Silvano celebrated a sensational exacta as his sons Arion and Power King went to the line in a thrilling finish to the R400 000 Glorious Goodwood 2015 Gr2 Peninsula Handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday. The Justin Snaith-trained Arion asserted his authority to win well and now looks ready to fulfil his early promise.
With the scratching of the Stan Elley-trained Dynastic Power at the start, fourteen runners lined up for what will have been a last opportunity for many to prove credentials for the J&B Met.
Both Justin Snaith and Dean Kannemeyer would have been pleased with the effort of the top two.
On the flipside, veteran trainer Mike Bass will be scratching his head over what was an indifferent performance from the enigmatic Helderberg Blue, who was touted a banker and backed accordingly. Interestingly, the pedestrian pace of the Premier Trophy had been blamed for his narrow defeat by Dynamic last time.
But after looking a winner and being given every chance on Saturday, the son of Jet Master ran a one-paced fourth in a disappointing effort that must place his Met chances in the twilight zone.
They jumped on terms and Chestnut’s Rocket was taken up to lead by MJ Byleveld and he showed the way from Serissa and Punta Arenas, with Helderberg Blue and Gone Baby Gone further back in a strung-out field.
Into the home run Chestnut’s Rocket led by 3 lengths as Arion and Helderberg Blue loomed up menacingly.
Approaching the 300m Helderberg Blue looked to be cruising but was quickly overwhelmed by a flying Arion who got first run on Power King.
Richard Fourie – confident ride
An ecstatic jockey Richard Fourie saluted as Arion galloped on powerfully to hold a strong late run from Dean Kannemeyer’s Power King, who was beaten 1,25 lengths in a perfect Met trial.
The winner, who started at 10 to 1, clocked 111,67 secs for the 1800m.
The lesser fancied of the Bass runners,Night Trip, stayed on for third and 2,25 lengths behind the winner.
Helderberg Blue plodded into fourth ahead of a staying on Punta Arenas.
Trainer Justin Snaith said that Arion had returned from a knee chip and gone straight into features in a rush to get him ready. “Everything had come too soon for him,” said SA’s champion trainer, who enjoyed a day of fluctuating fortunes.
Lord and Lady March, representing the Glorious Goodwood twinning arrangement, were on track to hand out the trophy to owners Greg Bortz and Hassen Adams. The charismatic Bortz’ said his only instructions to jockey Richard Fourie were to salute in the direction of his suite. He also offered to pay Fourie’s fine in the event that one was coming his way.
The other Arion partners, Etienne Braun and Paul Loomes, were not on course.
The Maine Chance Farms bred Arion is a son of Silvano out of the one-time winning Northern Guest mare, Alstroemarie.
The Cape Ready To Run graduate looks a nice buy at R200 000
The lightly raced Arion, who ran third in the 2014 Gr1 Investec Cape Derby behind stablemate Legislate, has now won 3 races with 6 places from his 13 runs and has amassed R579 475 in stakes.
He looks way ahead of the handicapper and could be an interesting horse to follow through the Met and into the KZN Champions Season – especially if Justin’s observations regarding his work with Legislate are taken into account.
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Gr2 Peninsula Handicap (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, January 10, R400k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.51.67
1 – ARION (SAF), 55.5, b c 4, Silvano (GER) – Alstroemaria (SAF) by Northern Guest (USA). Owner Messrs H Adams, Greg Bortz, E A Braun & P S Loomes; Breeder Maine Chance; trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie
2 – Power King (SAF), 56.5, b g 4, Silvano (GER) – Northern Gale (SAF) by Northern Guest (USA)
3 – Night Trip (SAF), 58.5, b g 5, Trippi (USA) – Pleine Nuit (IRE) by Machiavellian (USA)
Margins: 1.25, 1.00, 0.30
