Cheers! Northern Heritage(Brandon Morgenrood) comes clear down the rail to beat Kwitizina in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes
The wild Cape winter took a welcome backseat as the sun shone brilliantly on Kenilworth Racecourse this afternoon. The weather proved a mask though for an afternoon of tough results for punters as the 18-1 shot Northern Heritage beat the 13-1 Kwitizina to win the R138 000 Gr3 Champagne Stakes.
The feature had been delayed from the meeting of 11 August which had been lost due to adverse weather conditions but a near perfect winter’s day greeted those who made the trip out to the Southern Suburbs. The official penetrometer reading was 38 with the going recorded as heavy, and the results showed with a carryover in the Pick 6 and massive dividends in the Jackpot and Place Accumulator.
The start of the race was delayed by Captain’s Emblem, who played her usual games of refusing to load. Splendid Sun added to the well-behaved runners frustrations by bumping her gate open and having her saddle checked and then being reloaded. They were all eventually sent away to a good start despite the high jinks.
The pacy Yogas Govender-trained Kwitizina led Ocean’s Swift and Northern Heritage early with the fancied Comtesse Dubois going very well. At the 800m marker, the favourite’s stablemate Ocean’s Swift moved forward as Kwitizina was given a breather with Neisius urging Captain’s Emblem up into the firing line.
At the 400m marker the field were spread right across the track with the visiting Mary Poppins making her move wide of Comtesse Dubois, who looked to be going very well. Aldo Domeyer gave Kwitizina her head at the 300m marker and the Sporting Post cover selection scooted clear at 13-1 with the race looking to be for the places.
Great Win. Assistant Trainer Candice Robinson leads Northern Heritage into the winner’s box
But Brandon Morgenrood had been conserving the diminutive Northern Heritage down the inside, after jumping from a 3 stall-gate, and the 4yo chestnut showed tremendous acceleration under an outstandingly balanced ride to grab the ascendancy inside the final 200m.
She stormed through down the rail to pay R29-90 a tote win and R7-40 the place, as she collared the gallant Kwitzina. Greg Ennion’s Daintree Dancer finished with a rattle to catch and beat the tiring Comtesse Dubois, who ran a disappointing fourth to contribute to the in excess of R26 000 PA dividend.
The Louis Goosen-trained Jolly Poppins ran a courageous race 4,75 lengths adrift in fifth, but the list of disappointments is a lengthy one.
The 15-10 Comtesse Dubois was cruising inside the final 400m but got tired late and ran a 3,50 lengths fourth. She is definitely worth another chance and is much better than this.
Captain’s Emblem played up at the start and ran accordingly, finishing a non- threatening 5,55 lengths off the winner. She may be happier and more productive at stud.
Comtesse Dubois’ stablemate Ocean’s Swift, who looked very well and was sent off a second favourite at 33-10, showed plenty of pace but fell right away to 11,05 lengths off with only the moderate Chrisaldon behind her.
Jockey Brandon Morgenrood raised his hand in an elated salute as the chestnut cruised in and the much maligned rider showed that he can ride as well as any of his colleagues when given the opportunities. In an ironic twist, he and Aldo Domeyer, who rode the second-placed Kwitizina, could well have reversed their mounts – both riders having ridden both the top two and in fact Morgenrood more associated with Govender as Domeyer is with the Bass yard.
Northern Heritage won by 1,25 lengths in a time of 76,91secs. She is a winner of 4 races with 5 places from her 13 starts for gross stakes earnings of R236 747. She is also something of a course and distance having recorded 3 of her 4 victories at this track.
Trained by Mike Bass out at Milnerton, the winner was bred by the Bailes-McCarthy partnership and is by Western Winter out of the four- time winning Royal Chalice mare, Supreme Duel, who raced for the breeders.
Northern Heritage is all heart and while she may battle against the better girls in the Sizzling Summer Season that lies just around the corner, she is worth following and could win again in the winter.
Result:
Champagne S. (SAf-G3) (8/11)
Kenilworth, South Africa, August 11, R138.000, 1200m, turf, soft, 1.16.91.
NORTHERN HERITAGE (SAF), 60.0, ch f 4, Western Winter – Supreme Duel (SAF)
by Royal Chalice (SAF). Owner T L Bailes; breeder T L Bailes & L McCarthy
(SAF); trainer M W Bass; jockey B Morgenrood (R91.500)
Kwitizina (SAF), 60.0, b f 6, Captain Al (SAF) – Laisserfaire (AUS) by
Danehill
Daintree Dancer (AUS), 60.0, b f 4, Mossman (AUS) – Render (NZ) by Volksraad
(GB)
Margins: 1¼, 1½, ¾
Also ran: Comtesse Dubois (SAF) 60.0, Jolly Poppins (SAF) 60.0, Maxixe (SAF)
60.0, Captain’s Emblem (SAF) 60.0, Money Surger (SAF) 60.0, Splendid Sun
(SAF) 60.0, Jean’s Pride (SAF) 60.0, Ocean’s Swift (SAF) 60.0, Chrisaldon
(SAF) 60.0
