Milnerton trainer Eric Sands won the Cape Derby in 1988 with Jungle Warrior and in 2001 with Grand Jete. He also won it in 2006 with Moneybags but lost the race in the boardroom to Floatyourboat.
On Saturday he saddles his 2019 Met winner Rainbow Bridge’s Philanthropist half-brother Golden Ducat, who races in the Wilgerbosdrift silks, in the big race.
When asked for comparisons to his past Derby stars, Eric says that he is still ‘in the dark’.
“This is only Golden Ducat’s fifth start. He is going in very unexposed relative to my past Derby winners. It is documented that he is a horse with problems and I will have him as well and as fit as possible on Saturday. We will know better where we stand with him in the bigger scheme of things after the race,” he added.
Eric’s son Francis, on holiday here from overseas where he is studying, kindly sent us this movie of Jungle Warrior’s Cape Derby win 32 years ago under Basil Marcus.
The Gr1 Cape Derby was first run as the Western Province Derby in 1925 over 2400m for a stake of £600 including £200 donated by the Jockey Club.
It was won by the filly Desert Born on the 7th March. Since then it has been run over different distances and at two racetracks.
It was renamed the Cape of Good Hope Derby in 1946 and run over 2400m.
Click on the image below for the Cape Derby day racecard
