The unhappiness of longstanding owner Dr Kevin Bakos at his filly Rockin Russian not making the field for Saturday’s $500 000 CTS 1600 has been responded to by Racing Association CEO Larry Wainstein, on behalf of the panel who adjudicated on the final line-up.
Flashback – Rockin Russian chases Lady In Black home in the Gr1 Thekwini
Dr Bakos addressed a letter to Mr Wainstein, amongst other parties, whom he believed could be instrumental in the decision making process.
It should be noted that while Cape Thoroughbred Sales may have published the final two logs, the company, together with Kenilworth Racing, played no part in the panel decision making process.
For some background, please note that in terms of the local operator conditions, the following should be noted:
7.1.6. Discretionary Power of the Company
Unless otherwise stated in the Race Requirements, the Company grants the Handicapper the right to establish the field in any Feature Race or Juvenile Plate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Condition 7, the Handicapper shall have an absolute discretion, after the closing of declarations, to:
7.1.6.1 – exempt any horse from the application to it of these Conditions governing eliminations.
7.1.6.2 – eliminate any horse from a race.
In terms of the race in question, a Panel comprising Phumelela representatives and Handicappers was duly constituted to determine the final field.
The Panel, in making its determination considered Rockin Russian’s form in her three races in the Cape. In her 1st Cape start, in the Cape Classic on 28th October, on Ratings at the time Rockin Russian was weighted to win by a wide margin. Instead, she finished 2nd last, beaten 4.5 lengths by the winner TapO’Noth. Obviously Tap O’Noth has since turned out to be a much better horse than was evident at the time, but Rockin Russian ran a most disappointing race, especially as her sex allowance meant she was extremely well treated by the race conditions. Rockin Russian, then rated 99, ran to 80.
Rockin Russian then contested the Cape Fillies Guineas. She was weighted to finish 5th, some 2 lengths off the best weighted Snowdance. Instead she finished stone last, beaten 15.20 lengths. Admittedly she was drawn 16 out of 16 and was forced to race wide, but it was still a very much below par effort on ratings. In this race she finished some 4.70 lengths behind Rings and Things, who accordingly got into the CTS 1600m race ahead of her. Rockin Russian, still rated 99, ran to 75. Even without excuses, it is impossible to believe she would have run anywhere near 99 and she was accordingly dropped to 95.
Rockin Russian then contested a Progress Plate for 3yo fillies, where she was again weighted to win by a big margin. Instead, she laboured into 3rd place, beaten 3.65 lengths by Elusive Heart, who was 4 kgs “out” at the weights with Rockin Russian on ratings. Rockin Russian ran only to 81, and was dropped again to 90. That is her current rating – and it is 9 points higher than the best rating she has achieved in any of her 3 Cape Town starts. In this race, Rockin Russian was beaten 0.40 lengths by Freedom Charter, while receiving 3 kgs. Hence, Freedom Charter was given preference for the CTS 1600m, which of course is level weights.
There is no question on ratings that Rockin Russian has been running many pounds below her ability in all her Cape Town starts and as such was ruled out of the CTS 1600m race in favour of horses with stronger recent credentials.
Ed – although under different race conditions, the higher-rated Deo Juvente failed to make the cut in the Sun Met final field of 20 ahead of a lower-rated opponent such as Horizon, as recent form no doubt also played a role in the decision making process.
