The What A Winter colt Dutch Philip boosted his career earnings to over R4 million when he trounced his rivals with a storming late run to win the $500 000 CTS 1200 at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Dutch Philip – seen at a winning effort earlier on
With his highly vaunted stablemate Magical Wonderland all the talk after her sensational Gr2 Sceptre Stakes win at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Festival recently, Dutch Philip was allowed to start at a generous 8-1 after his quiet Diadem Stakes effort last time.
But the son of What A Winter confirmed his status as the officially highest-rated galloper in the field to score a terrific win under the in-form Grant van Niekerk – who won this race last year on Live Life for the same stable.
With a first cheque of R3 734 375, it was a great race for larger-than-life Cape owner Marsh Shirtliff, who also has shares in the third placed Magical Wonderland and fourth-placed finisher, Sand And Sea. He and Bryn Ressell also own Undercover Agent who won the Kuda Sprint earlier.
Owner Marsh Shirtliff – what a race!
The CTS 1200 is restricted to eligible graduates of the 2016 Cape Premier Yearling Sale held on 21 and 22 January 2016, the CTS March Yearling Sale held on 19 and 20 March 2016 and the Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale held on 21 April 2016. The race attracted a capacity field, but was reduced to 18 starters after two scratchings.
Grant Van Niekerk had Dutch Philip relaxed early and he produced the gutsy speedster at the 300m with a sweeping run up the outside. Bernard Fayd’herbe looked to be moving through ominously on the Snaith’s Kasimir down the inside, but they had no answer to Dutch Philip who went on to win by a half length in a time of 72,51 secs.
Candice Bass-Robinson also trained the favourite, Magical Wonderland, who had every chance but could do no better than third, ahead of Dennis Drier Gr1 winner, Sand And Sea.
Joey Ramsden’s Speedpoint was forced to check late as a result of Dutch Philip shifting in and ran fifth – banking the last stake of R149 375.
Candice Bass-Robinson trained first and third
Dutch Philip is a R460 000 CTS March Yearling Sale graduate and was bred by Rex Stud. He is out of the versatile five-time winning Dominion Royale mare, Uppity Ann. He now heads for the Cape Classic at Kenilworth on 28 October.
A dual stakes winner with a very bright future, Dutch Philip has now banked R4 140 850 from his 5 wins with 3 places from 10 starts.
The astute Marsh Shirtliff, a part owner of the winner’s sire What A Winter, who also produced the Kuda Sprint winner Agent Of Fortune a half hour earlier, bought the winner’s full sister – named Scottish Alley – at last weekend’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale for R550 000.
