Pippa Mickleburgh
I’ve come to look forward to the first Saturday in December for the Avontuur Fillies Guineas and this year was no exception. It was another beautiful summer’s day in Cape Town and as my car rolled through the race course gates, Kenilworth lay bathed in sunshine and festooned with the smart green Avontuur livery.
There was no mistaking that Avontuur had definitely come to Kenilworth for the day – there were flags and banners everywhere and a myriad of little details that put a personal stamp on the day. A brass band looks festive without blowing a note and there was a smartly dressed company down on the grass adding some life and colour to the proceedings.
Pippa is one of the hardest-working hostesses I’ve ever seen, somehow managing to be everywhere at once – greeting people in the Peninsula room, supporting her runners in the parade ring, chatting to everyone on course and making it all look effortless.
We opened the card with a Work Riders race. William Bambiso is a bit of a favourite as he’s always laughing and smiling on the morning gallops. I so hoped things would go his way on the handsome Palos Verdes in the Fieldspring colours, but despite a determined charge, Elliot Kondile and African Alliance held on just long enough for victory for Justin Snaith.
Race 2 was the first Cape 2 YO scurry of the season and I looked forward eagerly to see who would feature. The daughter of Black Minnaloushe, The Black Rose was easy to like in the parade ring with her striking good looks and she won more or less as she liked under the usual accomplished ride from Richard Fourie. She was the first winner out of the Cape Premier Sale catalogue and also made the second birthday present of the day for Justin Snaith !
Our up-country jockeys showed us that it was not just a social visit in the third, with Anton Marcus bringing Strawberry Line home for Mike Bass, closely followed by Alec Forbes on Atlantic Beach and Muzi Yeni on Sully’s Landing in third. It is always a pleasure watching Anton ride – he is always smiling and amiable in the parade ring, but is all business on the track. With him taking his maiden rides as seriously as his Group contenders, punters can always be assured that they are getting their money’s worth.
Although there was only a small field of runners in the fourth, it doesn’t take a lot of horses to make a good race. Anton Marcus is never easily beaten and put up a fight to the death on Western Count. It was a nail biting finish, but the handsome Bois de Var in the flying Crabbia colours put the first points on the board for Var to jubilant celebrations from his connections.
I caught Marsh Shirtliff and his gorgeous partner Karin Norman in the lift just before the Equifeeds Handicap where they had three runners carded. They duly mopped up with Los Colmos grabbing victory under Chris Puller and Lancelin and Shimmering Flame grabbing third and fourth – not a bad day at the office ! Niel Bruss is making his presence felt in Cape Town and was narrowly denied with Target Acquired who finished a close second.
There was a real buzz of excitement for the Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes with a real bevy of racing beauties in the starting line-up, including last year’s winner, Covenant. All eyes were on Val de Ra and she did Dennis Drier credit in the parade ring, looking an absolute picture. She runs as good as she looks and blazed home a good 2 lengths clear of State Blue, who had her work cut out to fend off Covenant under another determined ride from champion jockey Anton Marcus.
Julie Alexander brightened up the course and the commentary with her big smile and glamorous outfit and I managed to catch a few words with her between races. I’d been a little worried about Pierre Jourdan after his Summer Cup finish, but she assured me he had pulled up fine, so we can look forward to seeing the big rangy colt out again soon.
The tension rose for the day’s feature. The parade ring was quite a family affair with Glen Kotzen’s niece, Nicola Mohr and her magnificent grey, Howling Wind, leading the parade. It was an especially emotional occasion for the Princess Victoria connections after the recent sad loss of Mike Wintle. Sincere condolences to all.
However, the beautiful filly rose to the occasion under a jubilant ride from Sean Cormack and Peter de Beyer summed it up best in his post race speech, saying how apt it was for a fairy tale day to be crowned by a Princess! Dr Andreas Jacobs and family would anxiously have been following the race from London and I hope it added to the birthday celebrations.
Richard Fourie booted the 3 YO Mellifont filly Takeyouroath home for owner/trainer Glen Puller in the Luna de Miel handicap. Although Glen likes to maintain a low profile, he seldom runs his horses frivolously and it is worth taking note when he has a runner carded.
The day was rounded off in emphatic fashion by a storming win from Winter Dynasty. He is a handsome colt and his build and facial markings are quite reminiscent of his famous uncle, Winter Solstice. Most will remember Winter Dynasty as THAT horse which caused so much discussion after his last outing. It seems Andrew’s ride was vindicated as the horse has obviously come on enormously and came home lonely, 3.5 lengths clear of Jet Explorer. It was a well-executed ride from Brandon Morgenrood, but he gave every credit to the horse.
As the sun set over Rosmead Avenue, the revelry was just getting started in the private boxes and hospitality areas.
My thanks to Pippa and Avontuur for a fantastic day’s racing and to all the owners, trainers, horses and riders who provided all the fun. I’m already looking forward to next year !
