With his highly vaunted stablemate Double Superlative failing to bring his A-game to Kenilworth on Saturday, the classy Vercingetorix gelding Pomp And Power relished an innovative change of tactics to win the final Gr1 of the Cape Summer Season, the R1 million Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby.
Richard Fourie was aboard Justin Snaith’s most recent Cape Derby winner Legislate in 2014, and the crack rider produced the magic again on Saturday, riding the lesser fancied of the SA Champion yard’s duo from off the gallop to become the fourth Gr1 winner for Maine Chance sire Vercingetorix (Silvano), currently chart-topper on the SA General Sires List.
Richard Fourie takes it easy as Pomp And Power storms home (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
After Universal had led for a long way and continued to gallop relentlessly into the final 300m, Fourie brought Pomp And Power (9-2) from some way off.
The chestnut had won the Concorde Cup and Langerman when up with the speed, but showed he is no one-trick pony with a resounding turn of foot from lengths back under a delighted Fourie.
At the line, 1,50 lengths separated the winner and the gallant Universal (6-1).
The odds-on favourite Double Superlative plodded into third and had no finish. He looked to be flat after a big effort in the Cape Town Met.
The winner’s time was 124,76 secs.
Pomp And Power made it three features on the trot for Maine Chance Farms on the big day and , has now won 5 races with 1 place from 9 starts with his stakes bank already reaching R1 050 275.
Out of the Candy Stripes mare Peru, Pomp And Power was well bought at R250 000 on the 2020 National Yearling Sale.
He joins Ambiorix, Vernichey and the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette as Gr1 winners sired by Vercingetorix.
OFFICIAL RESULT
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | |||
| 1ST | 2 POMP AND POWER | SJ Snaith | R Fourie | 9/2 | ||
| 2ND | 3 UNIVERSAL | AN Marcus | C Zackey | 1.50 | 1.50 | 6/1 |
| 3RD | 1 DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE | SJ Snaith | A Marcus | 3.25 | 4.75 | 91/100 |
| 4TH | 5 SENSO UNICO | VH Marshall | B Fayd’Herbe | 1.50 | 6.25 | 16/1 |
| 5TH | 4 NEVER ENDING RAIN | GS Kotzen | G Lerena | 0.20 | 6.45 | 25/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 2 mins 04.76 sec | ||||||
| Tote Fav | 1 DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE | SJ Snaith | A Marcus | 4.75 | 91/100 | |
