The Cape’s Royal. Karl Neisius pilots Cape Royal to an easy win over Pink Martini in the Easter Dash
The inaugural R80 000 Easter Dash run over 600m at Clairwood on Sunday produced a pleasing enough spectacle with the class horse Cape Royal winning going away. For those who took the generous 18 to 10 available about the Dean Kannemeyer trained colt, it was to prove the best return on investment this year.
The race was run at level weights irrespective of ratings and sex, and with Kannemeyer’s Cape Royal coming in on a 106 rating, he looked virtually unbeatable.
Veteran jockey Karl Neisius jumped the son of Royal Academy quietly from his 2 barrier gate and while run off his feet early on, he slowly coaxed him forward down the inside after Royal Samba and Pink Martini had done the early chasing.
Inside the final 200m, Neisius gave the smart 3yo his head and he strode clear to beat the speedy fillies Pink Martini and Cherry Tripper.
Cape Royal won by 0,75 lengths in a time of 33,49 secs.
The official handicapper emerged with plenty of credit as , except for Bwana Macube (89) who ran three lengths off, the top three finishers Cape Royal (106), Pink Martini (89) and Cherry Tripper (86) finished in terms of their published ratings.(We are aware that Cherry Tripper did run unplaced on Friday at Greyville).
While this race was really nothing more than a well paid grass gallop for the winner’s owner Lady Christine Laidlaw, the result and statistics will not be taken into account for handicapping or any other purposes. But it will certainly bring the youngster’s fitness levels along nicely.
The Cheveley Stud bred son of Royal Academy looks a promising sprint prospect for the forthcoming Champions Season and will be out to build on his record of 4 wins and 2 places from 8 starts. He has earned R189 530 (excluding this cheque) and cost R1,5 million at the Ready To Run Sale.
- Dean Kannemeyer celebrated a promising start to his KZN Champions Season campaign.
Earlier on the Clairwood afternoon, both his other runners earned. Divine Jet ran a fast finishing second to Tipo Tinto in the 1000m Pinnacle Stakes, returning from a 113 day rest, and then Liancourt Rock was narrowly beaten by Captain’s Secret in the 1450m Pinnacle Stakes. The son of Fastnet Rock was having his first run as a gelding after a 470 day rest.
