Captain’s Secret has been taking on much stronger
East Cape Sprint Cup (L) over 1200m at Fairview on Friday
For the second weekend in a row the only black type to be found is in Port Elizabeth on Friday. The listed East Cape Sprint Cup tops the bill and as was the case last week when runners from the stable of Justin Snaith hacked up, a raider from the Western Cape could well take first prize again, writes Steve Furnish.
Rather than bringing in classy reinforcements, Justin’s two representatives in this event are both based in the Eastern Cape.
Icemberg
Best in at the weights of Justin’s duo is Icemberg. This son Hennessey has won five of his sixteen starts since relocating to the Eastern Cape and two of those successes have been gained over today’s course and distance. He’s very well treated at the weights with most here and should be involved in the finish.
Gaultier
Formerly with Mike Bass in Cape Town, the veteran Gaultier won the Cape Merchants back in 2008. He’s run some good recent races in defeat, most notably when fourth in the Durban Merchants last June. He’s without a win in fifteen starts now and although on paper he should be in the shake up, younger runners, particularly those from his former stable, look likely to have his measure.
Castlethorpe
This week’s raiders from the Western Cape then are all from the very powerful stable of Mike Bass. He seldom raids the Eastern Cape, but when he does his representatives are always very serious runners.
The highest rated of his trio, and indeed best in at the weights, is the 4yo Castlethorpe. The most lightly raced of the twelve runners, this son of Not A Single Doubt is usually campaigned over further and is yet to score over a trip shorter than 1400m. He is also coming off a four month break here and in all probability is being warmed up for a forthcoming campaign in Durban.
Rushing Wind commands a powerful turn of foot
Rushing Wind
The Windrush gelding Rushing Wind is a bit of an enigma. In command of a very powerful turn of foot on his day, Rushing Wind has caught the eye finishing best of all in top class sprinting events on several occasions. He gained his latest success over today’s distance, but he does have a tendency to arrive on the scene too late and has only managed to find the winner’s enclosure once in his last 22 outings. As with Castlethorpe he returns from a four month break here. He has done well racing fresh though and effectively taking a drop in class here, he should be involved if anywhere near ready.
Captain’s Secret
In all probability then, the stable elect on the day is Captain’s Secret and he does have the very talented Bernard Fayd’Herbe on board. A winner of the Sophormore Sprint and Cape Classic in 2009, this son of Captain Al was up there with the very best of his generation as a youngster. He’s only managed one win since returning from a nine month layoff in Oct ’10, but he has been racing in top class features and since finishing third in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint in July, he’s run close to both What A Winter and Val De Ra during the recent Western Cape season.
Celtic Fire
The highest rated of ,up and coming trainer Yvette Bremner’s three runners is Celtic Fire. A winner of no less than twelve of his thirty outings, this 5yo son of Bezrin goes particularly well at this circuit. At first glance one would expect him to find today’s trip too sharp as he is usually seen out over considerably further. What is interesting here though is that Celtic Fire has won two of his three outings over 1200m and is in fact unbeaten over today’s course and distance. Stable jockey Karis Teetan takes the ride. It will be interesting to see how he goes.
Villandry
The winner of the prestigious Gr1 Gold Medallion over today’s distance at Scottsville back in 2009, the Var gelding Villandry was up there with the best sprinters of his generation as a youngster. After a spell in the wilderness he’s come to hand nicely since relocating to the Eastern Cape and has now won three of his last four starts. He’s won with authority in gaining the two latest of those successes and on each occasion he has had four of today’s runners behind him.
Bandol
Making up Yvette’s trio is the speedy Bandol. Another son of Var, Bandol has good gate speed and taking full advantage of that, he’s proven to be at his best from the front. His seven wins have all been gained over 1000m though, and held by others in this race on his latest efforts over today’s distance, he clearly has no easy task here.
Bob ‘N Weave
As with a number of the locals taking part here, the 4yo Bob ‘N Weave is usually found up with the speed. This son of Lecture has won three of his ten starts over today’s trip and having achieved his best rating to date in our book last time out, he is clearly at the top of his game. Bob ‘N Weave has been beaten fair and square by Villandry in each of his last two outings though and further improvement will be needed if he is to turn the tables.
Three Captains
Formerly with Paul Matchett in Gauteng, Three Captains showed flashes of real ability and was far from disgraced when finishing sixth in the Gr2 Gauteng Nursery as a juvenile back in 2009. After taking a few outings to acclimatize, this son of Captain Al has come to hand nicely since relocating to the Eastern Cape, winning four, and finishing second in four. He’s run on stoutly when beaten by Villandry in each of his last two outings and although he has no easy task at the weights with that one here, one gets the impression that further improvement is still to come.
Kentucky Express
For many years local feature races have been dominated by the top stables of Greeff and Smith, and yet surprisingly here, Alan is not represented, and Gavin has the two runners worst in at the weights.
Formerly with Mike De Kock, the Muhtafal gelding Kentucky Express will be having his first outing for the stable. Equally effective on sand, Kentucky Express has been very consistent, but he is without a win in nine starts now and out at the weights, he faces a stiff task here.
Kings Troop
Third in 2009, second in 2010 and fourth in 2011, the veteran Kings Troop has a good record in this race. This 7yo is without a win in forty one outings now though, and on current form even a place looks unlikely.
About The Pace
The pace is usually on in sprint races in the Eastern Cape and with most of the regular suspects taking part that should certainly be the case again here. Mike Bass’s trio of runners are all very well weighted here and although the steeplechase margins achieved by Justin Snaith’s two runners last weekend are unlikely to be repeated, all are capable of winning here. The local runners look sure to be right there when push comes to shove, but the classy raiders Captain’s Secret and Rushing Wind do look the most likely to fight it out,
