Come Get Me! Anthony Andrews glances at Karl Zechner as Key Castle powers clear to win the Diamond Stayers (JC Photos)
There are few horses in training who are still going strong at ten years of age. Saturday’s R100 000 Diamond Stayers winner Key Castle is one of those rare prizes. He also boasts the distinction of having won eleven races from 1400m to 3600m at five different racecourses on both surfaces.
The former Joey Ramsden trained gelding is one of the most hardiest, versatile and courageous horses around and the former PE Gold Cup winner rose to the challenge of his trainer’s brainwave to raid Kimberley for the Diamond City’s biggest race of the year.
Jacques Strydom made the most of the long road trip when he turned the Qui Danzig gelding out in fine trim. Apprentice Anthony Andrews, who had won the Listed Glenlair Trophy on Paddy O’Reilly earlier this year, rode a well judged race.
The non black type 2200m feature attracted a field of fourteen, including last year’s winner Sir Lowry.
Clint Binda’s Gauteng visitor Marching Band led for much of the trip after Campo De Santana and Royal Bastide had lost valuable ground at the jump.
Turning for home Marching Band was still plodding away as Castle Rock and then Trouble Again came forward strongly in the centre.
At the 200m marker it looked as if Karl Zechner had ridden a perfect race for Grant Paddock as Trouble Again appeared to hold the advantage.
But inside the final stages the powerhouse Key Castle was in full stride and Andrews kept him well balanced to win going away by a half length in a time of 149,26 secs.
The young jockey glanced back at his opponent Karl Zechner in the final strides, but without any of the exuberant gesticulation made famous by a certain counterpart of his in the Western Cape recently!
Trouble Again ran a solid second,while African Gladiator stayed on for third.
Bred by Arc En Ciel, Key Castle is a 10 yo gelded son of Qui Danzig out of the four time winning Dancing Champ mare, Bluffit. She produced the Gold Cup winner Major Bluff, who was also trained by Joey Ramsden.
Key Castle raced in Cape Town for staunch UK owners, Gisela Burg and Martin Wickens.
The 2011 PE Gold Cup victor is now a winner of 11 races with 30 places from 82 starts.
He took his stake earnings to R971 374.
He was a R220 000 former Vintage Sale graduate.
Well done to trainer Jacques Strydom, who showed again that he has few peers when it comes to getting stayers to win.
