Rich Girl topped log but has pulled a bad draw
Diversity, genuine value and quality are the overriding thread of the sixteen horse field assembled for Africa’s richest ever horse race to be run over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.
The R3,85 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup has an extraordinary spread of variety in terms of origin, blood and bottom-line, and proves the marketing adage of have a ticket, have a chance.
The sale-with-race was the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and is entering its eighth successful year. The organisers have pointed out that the stake amounts to a return of R50 000 a second, every stride of the journey!
And without singling out any particular horse to punt the viability of this great concept, just consider Brian Burnard’s Pioneer Spirit, who is one of a duo from the Gavin Van Zyl yard.
Bargain
His sire Go Deputy is not seen as a producer who ordinarily instills precocity or gets them to go early. The colt is out of a daughter of Western Winter, who never won. And best of all he cost just R35 000.
He has already earned R83 000 odd and lines up on Saturday from a decent draw with a top young rider in the saddle.
With stakes paid all the way down to R75 000 for a tenth placed finish, work out the odds for yourself!
Big Buy
Then charismatic relatively new owner Greg Bortz paid just R100 000 for the Summerhill Stud bred Muhtafal filly Chili Chocolate who squeaked into the final line-up after an emphatic Vaal maiden win on 7 October, which saw her claw her way up from a late September log standing of 46!
Trainer Johan Janse Van Vuuren, who won it last year with Winter Star, will be feeling particularly pleased with himself as he also saddles log second-placed Silver Class. The Danika Stud-bred Silver Class cost just R225 000 and has won 2 of 4 starts.
Log-toppers
Flashback to 2013 as Winter Star wins
The Charles Laird-trained Rich Girl and the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Silver Class in fact have hogged first and second places on the log respectively, which is interesting as both trainers have won the race with a filly before, Laird doing it with Hollywoodboulevard in 2010 and Janse Van Vuuren achieving it with Winter Star last year.
Rich Girl has sadly drawn wide at 15 but the Aussie bred daughter of Rock Of Gbraltar has only produced one poor run at Gr1 level when casting a shoes and running accordingly.
She has won 4 of her 7 starts and is already a stakes performer. With Anton Marcus in the saddle, she will have plenty of supporters.
De Kock’s Quartet
Mike De Kock saddles four runners, which include the Ten Einde Farm bred Judpot gelding Dreamupnadream. He won his second race from 7 starts last time when fitted with blinkers and starts froma good draw.
The next best of De Kock’s quartet could be the Western Winter colt Lava Flow, who won well on the Vaal 1400m at second time out. He ran a cracker behind Bezanova (who runs in the Charity Mile) last time when going handy.
De Kock’s Kahal filly Kosava produced a cracking debut win at Scottsville in August but has pulled a rough card of a 16 draw.
Sean Tarry Teofilo filly Tamaanee is a course and distance winner at her second start and takes her chances from a 3 draw.
Cape Challenge
Brett Crawford raids from the Cape
Joey Ramsden and Brett Crawford take the long road from Cape Town, and who can blame them for this carrot?
Ramsden said recently that the Klawervlei Stud bred Captain’s Orders last run was all wrong and he is looking for serious improvement. Dare we argue with a man who dominated the feature action in two centres last weekend?
Brett Crawford’s debut winning Dynasty filly Bella Spumante has drawn at 17.
Duncan Howells has pulled a cherry 1 draw with Saratoga Dancer,who was targeted early at this race.
Howells has been lucky with the Mambo In Seattle progeny and travels well.
Gary Alexander saddles the Admire Main colt, The Elmo Effect who was a really impressive course and distance winner on debut.
Another Jooste runner is the Joey Soma trained Trippi gelding Jock Silberstein, who is piloted by Piere Strydom from a 2 draw. The Klawervlei Stud rep resentative is likely to relish the test.
