Chesalon - looking to follow in Pocket’s footsteps
Gr2 Greenpoint Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth (old course) on Saturday
After all the thrills and spills of the international jockey’s challenge last weekend, it’s business as usual at Kenilworth on Saturday. The Gr2 Green Point Stakes tops the bill and although the majority of the fields on the card are surprisingly small for this time of year, thirteen will go to post, writes Steve Furnish.
A weight for age event over 1600m on the old course, the Green Point Stakes has been won by the mighty Pocket Power in three of the last four seasons.
Bravura
Highest rated of the thirteen by the official handicapper this time around is the former Cape Derby winner Bravura. A son Silvano, Bravura was unbeaten in five starts after winning that prestigious event back in 2010. Joey Ramsden’s charge was laid off for ten months after that success and then wasn’t seen out until running a fair sixth to the legendary Pocket Power in this race last season. Although his lone success since was in a pinnacle event, Bravura has run some tremendous races in defeat, most notably when only beaten a neck over today’s distance by Dancewiththedevil in the Gr1 Gold Challenge, and when a 2,3 lengths seventh to Igugu in the July. He showed his well being when only a length and three quarters off Tales Of Bravery in a pinnacle event on his seasonal debut last month and with champion jockey Anton Marcus in the saddle, he should be right there.
Bravura
Lion In Winter
As well as the top rated runner Bravura, trainer Joey Ramsden is also represented by the second highest rated contender in Lion In Winter. More often than not seen out over shorter earlier in his career, this son of Western Winter has gained four of his eight wins over shorter than he races here. He did show tremendous improvement during the course of last season though, and now more accustomed to racing over today’s distance and further, he’s won three of his last four outings. Lion In Winter won particularly well when getting the better of last season’s J&B Met third placed runner Run For It when out at the weights in a pinnacle event last time out and should be right there.
Tales Of Bravery
Vaughan Marshall’s charge finished three quarters of a length behind Run For It in last season’s J&B Met, but perhaps more significantly, Lion In Winter was a half length behind him. In theory then Lion In Winter should have his measure having risen some seven points in the handicap since, but Tales Of Bravery is only rated one point behind him and he did run up to his rating when winning on his return from a six month layoff last time out.
Mike’s Quartet
The highest rated of the four runners from the powerful stable of Mike Bass is last season’s SA Classic winner English Garden. This son of Camden Park went from strength to strength during the course of last season and wound up a tremendous campaign with a third placing in the prestigious Gr1 Durban July. English Garden was probably in need of the outing when finishing down field after racing unsettled behind Tales Of Bravery in his seasonal debut last time out and he would ideally prefer further. He has won two of his four previous outings over 1600m though and with Karl Neisius in the saddle one would expect him to be the stable elect.
Super Storm is only rated three points inferior to English Garden by the official handicapper and he was only 1,4 lengths behind his stable companion in the July. He’s more often than not been campaigned over further during the past twelve months, but it is worth noting that three of his five wins have been gained over 14/1600m. He ran a fair seventh when making his seasonal debut behind Lion In Winter in a conditions event last time out, and sure to strip fitter here, should be thereabouts.
Third in both the Selangor Cup and Cape Guineas back in 2009, the 5yo Kiss Again has shown flashes of real ability and he does appear to be at his very best around today’s distance. He does usually find one or two to beat him when stepping up to this level, but having only failed to reel in Tales Of Bravery in the aforementioned pinnacle event last time out, he is clearly at the top of his game.
The one I like best from the stable on the day though is the 4yo Chesalon. This lightly raced son of Fort Wood progressed quickly after shedding his maiden tag in February and fully deserved his win in the Gr3 Winter Classic over 1800m at this circuit in May. He was finishing much the stronger than both Tales Of Bravery (the winner) and his stable companion Kiss Again when third on his seasonal debut last time out and although he is now 1,5kg worse off at the weights with both of those, he does have enormous scope for improvement. Karis Teetan knows him well having ridden him in each of his last four outings. Expect a big run.
Grafton Street
One of the few horses still seen racing at 10 years of age in this country, the gutsy Grafton Street finished runner up in this race last season. He’s been a tremendous servant to connections and is sure once again to give of his best. He has been comfortably beaten in each of his last five starts against weaker though and this time around he will do well to make the frame.
Cask
A bit of an enigma, the Fort Wood gelding Cask has surprisingly only managed to win three of his twenty starts. He commands a very powerful turn of foot as his win in last season’s Gr2 Midmar Premier Trophy will attest, and it is worth noting that he had both Super Storm and Bravura behind him in that event. The Premier Trophy took place on the new course and Cask clearly appreciated the longer galloping straight. He did catch the eye running on best of all when down field in that pinnacle event won by Tales Of Bravery on his seasonal debut over 1500m on the old course last time out though, and if regular partner Richard Fourie can get him into the race a little earlier, he has to be a very serious runner here.
Paddy O’Reilly
Sparingly raced during the course of the last two seasons, Glen Kotzen’s charge was thought good enough to contest the Selangor Cup and Cape Guineas back in 2009 and although he failed to get in a blow in those events, he did finish fourth later that season in the Cape Derby. He will no doubt have been in need of the outing when seventh in the Gr3 Algoa Cup after a six month layoff last time out and is sure to have come on for the run. Since shedding his maiden tag over today’s distance in heavy going though, he has proven to be at his best over further and usually a little slow into stride, and drawn wide to boot here, he is not easy to fancy.
First Lad
Sparingly raced during the course of 2011, the Jallad gelding First Lad has silently been coming along nicely. He does look well held on his effort behind Chesalon in the Winter Classic though and now taking a big step up in class will not find it easy here.
Emerald Cove
The only female in the race is the Captain Al filly Emerald Cove. The winner of the prestigious Gr1 Paddock Stakes last season, Justin Snaith’s charge then went on to run a very creditable eighth, beaten just 2,4 lengths by Igugu, in the Durban July. She showed her well being when only 0,65 lengths off Tales Of Bravery on her return to action following a three month break last time out, and in receipt of a 2,5kg sex allowance here she is weighted to fight it out.
Alula Borealis
The only 3yo in the race is the Go Deputy gelding Alula Borealis. A winner of three of his four career starts to date, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge has done very little wrong. Indeed, his only defeat came in just his second outing where racing very green he never got into the race. He quickened very nicely in the latter stages of his two subsequent outings, both over today’s distance, and could yet prove to be anything.
About The Pace
With plenty of options for the role of front runner amongst the thirteen, the pace should be on. The 5yo’s with the three highest merit ratings have all shown their well being in recent weeks and look sure to be involved in the finish. It doesn’t stop there though, as amongst others there are two very promising 4yo’s in Chesalon and Cask. Both command a powerful turn of foot and can improve plenty. Chesalon in particular ran a very good race on his return from a break last time out and narrowly gets the vote.
