Top Win! Cape Royal is led in by Alfred T Skeyi and trainer Dean Kannemeyer
The R300 000 Gr2 Selangor Cup is run on Sunday 2 December and the race marks the return to action of Cape Champion juvenile, King Of Pain. A minor Novice Plate run at Kenilworth on Wednesday might just have complicated the picture for punters.
Some big equine names turned out at Kenilworth with mixed results.
Dean Kannemeyer’s Cape Royal and Joey Ramsden’s Silvano’s Jet emerged with sparkling credit. For some of the others, it was a less memorable afternoon.
The 3yo Royal Academy colt Cape Royal bounced back from his contentious boardroom defeat by Happy Forever a fortnight ago to score a smooth win in the Graduation Plate over 1200m.
Lady Laidlaw’s handsome bay colt started at a ridiculously generous 33-10 and accounted for some highly rated rivals in scintillating fashion.
Dennis Drier’s undefeated Rock Of Gibraltar filly Sunshine Rock skated off to lead the five horse field with Cape Royal and Tevez in close attendance.
Inside the final 350m Cape Royal started to stalk his prey with intent and Neisius pounced at the 200m marker as the South Easter and a measure of ring-rustiness took its toll on the smart filly.
At this point Bernard Fayd’Herbe got stuck into Tevez, but the Bass colt inexplicably became very one-paced and with nothing to come, was passed by Albert Mooney, who ran into third position.
Cape Royal beat Sunshine Rock, who showed terrific pace and can only improve, by 2,50 lengths in a time of 72 secs.
The Stipes Reported:
TEVEZ (G Hatt) was hanging out badly in the closing stages. In view of this report the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the colt on its return to the unsaddling enclosure.
TEVEZ (G Hatt) returned blowing hard. (Dr M Ledger)
Maybe just unfit? Tough stuff for his backers at 19-10!
No Blushing. Owners Peter De Beyer and Greg Cort lead Tequila Blush in. It was Cort’s first winner
The day started on an awkward note for punters when jockey Karl Neisius rode a confident race to get Stephen Page’s Tequila Blush home. The engagement of Neisius normally has a depressing impact on starting prices, so it must have been rather pleasant for the veteran to do his own thing out of the limelight and get the 18-1 shot home.
The Fort Wood filly was bred by the trainer’s former Cape-based jockey brother Nigel, and is owned by well-known personality Peter de Beyer and first time owner Greg Cort, who must think that this is an easy game.
Glen Hatt rode a cracker to win the fifth race, a Novice Plate run over a mile on Ramsden’s very smart Silvano’s Jet. The colt, who physically looked in need of some exercise, ran on strongly to hold a low-flying Abercrombie by a half-length.
Both have accepted for the Selangor , as has Paul Reeves’ Tiger Tiger , who finished tamely in fifth and 3,65 lengths behind. He looks a very optimistic inclusion.
Glen Puller’s Awesome Power ran a cracker to stay on for third after losing ground at the start. The Surging River gelding was one of the first into the stalls and fell asleep as he waited for the troublesome delinquents. These included Abercrombie (who will have to be reschooled befpre the Selangor) and the Marshall-trained Pirate Flag, who ran last.
The Stipes Reported:
ABERCROMBIE (B Fayd’herbe) was fractious and reared in the stalls. Jumped out sharply at the start. Trainer M Bass will be advised to have this colt reschooled before its next engagement in terms of Rule 61.6.10.
PIRATE FLAG (M J Byleveld) was fractious in the stalls, got its leg caught up over the side, and the jockey was dislodged. The gelding was taken out examined by the Veterinary Surgeon and declared fit to race. The saddle, which had slipped, had to be taken off and refitted causing a lengthy delay. Trainer V Marshall will be advised to have this gelding reschooled before its next engagement in terms of Rule 61.6.10.
Jumps Ship. Glen Hatt gets off Silvano’s Jet to ride Paterfamilias for Bass
The Selangor sees Dean Kannemeyer bumping heads with his neighbour Joey Ramsden and after Capetown Noir’s exciting victory over Run For It last Wednesday, it is clear that King Of Pain is going to have to be at his best.
In a show of jockey musical chairs, Fayd’Herbe, who rode Abercrombie on Wednesday jumps ship to King Of Pain, while Glen Hatt opts to ride Paterfamilias for the Mike Bass yard. Silvano’s Jet has no jockey at this stage.
See the final field for the Selangor Cup below.
R 300,000 Gr2 Selangor Cup run over 1600m at Kenilworth on 2 December
(For 3 year-olds at Condition Weights)
1 1 KING OF PAIN 58.0 107 A B Fayd’Herbe Joey Ramsden
2 4 CHAVE DE OURA 58.0 97 A S Cormack Dennis Drier
3 6 CAPETOWN NOIR 56.5 103 A K Neisius Dean Kannemey
4 9 SILVANO’S JET 56.5 94 A …………… Joey Ramsden
5 12 SANSHAAWES 56.5 92 BA M Winnaar Piet Steyn
6 3 ABERCROMBIE 56.5 91 A A Domeyer Mike Bass
7 10 READYTOGORIGHTNOW 56.5 91 A R Fradd Justin Snaith
8 7 PATERFAMILIAS 56.5 88 A G Hatt Mike Bass
9 11 ACT FAST 56.5 87 A M Byleveld Vaughan Marsh
10 5 PARKER 56.5 87 A G van Niekerk Justin Snaith
11 8 TIGER TIGER 56.5 87 BA D Ashby Paul Reeves
12 2 TERMINATOR 56.5 84 A …………… Justin Snaith
