Classic Colt – Capetown Noir will be out to set the Selangor Cup record straight in Saturday’s Gr1 CPYS Guineas
Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas to be run at Kenilworth has all the makings of the race of the year. History shows that only the best win this prized classic, and there is little logical favour between the three top 3yo’s this year. It should be a terrific race, despite the dramatic late withdrawal of the Sean Tarry-trained The Hangman.
The son of Jallad was reported to be lame this morning and was withdrawn. While the locals hold all the aces, the withdrawal of the Gauteng raider has been met with great disappointment all round.
With Cape Town in the grip of a heat wave, it is appropriate that temperatures are likely to reach boiling point as the countdown to Saturday’s big one edges closer.
Interpretation
You pays your money and you takes your chances. That philosophical approach is nothing new to those of us involved in the ongoing pursuit of supporting winning racehorses. But the argument and debate and general differences of opinion on the outstanding prospects of King Of Pain and Capetown Noir should be on the lips this week of everybody with only even a half interest in the game.
The fascinating aspect of the contest that lies ahead is that there is a nominal clinical mathematical conclusion to be reached. This is not a simple collateral form comparison. This is the big league and short of going with the handicapper’s assessment, which puts King Of Pain at the top of the tree, there are a few diverse considered outcomes which can be arrived at.
The Pain Killer. Has Joey Ramsden got a plan to stop Dean Kannemeyer?
The real interest will lie in the individual interpretation and emotional personal analysis of the prospects of two top horses from the Cape’s top yards, and hopefully trying to get it right!
Both Dean Kannemeyer and Joey Ramsden know what it takes to win the Guineas and when it comes to straight credentials, both Cape men have seen the Guineas movie and got the branded t-shirt.
The current Cape champion trainer, Ramsden won the race last year with Variety Club, and Kannemeyer has stood on the hallowed podium four times in six years.
In fact the Kannemeyer 2009 winner Noordhoek Flyer, who now stands as a stallion at Gary Player’s farm in Colesberg, was also ridden by Karl Neisius in the yellow and black Laidlaw silks that Capetown Noir will sport on Saturday.
Top 3yo – Selangor Cup winner King Of Pain looks set to continue his march to glory when he faces his biggest challenge on Saturday
Look East
The Selangor Cup run just three weeks ago on the winter course looks to hold some of the answers.
In that event King Of Pain was rather cleverly economically ridden from his 1 draw by Bernard Fayd’Herbe and outlasted a flying Capetown Noir by nothing more than half a breath. Capetown Noir was drawn in midfield there and had to be switched to the wide outside before making his run.
King Of Pain supporters may argue that their boy needed the Selangor run after an absence of seven weeks, while Capetown Noir came in fitter after slamming Run For It three weeks earlier.
Then what about the Run For It run? The Snaith colt franked the merit of the Capetown Noir win when he came out with all guns blazing to chase Beach Beauty home in last Saturday’s Gr2 Calulo Services Premier Trophy.
King Of Pain was Cape Champion Juvenile of last season and won the Langerman and Winter Juvenile Stakes, before a stupidly unlikely defeat by Changingoftheguard in his seasonal debut in the Matchem Stakes.
But that is history now and Saturday and his biggest career test beckons.
Others
Are the rest running for lunch money? We would say yes.
The two KwaZulu-Natal raiders Love Struck and Cape Classic winner Chave De Oura warrant consideration.
Love Struck has pulled the best draw and won the Listed Guineas Trial at Clairwood in early November in good style. He gave Wild One 2kgs and a 4,75 length beating. Wild One came out next time and finished 5 lengths off The Hangman at level weights in the Dingaans.
While on a strict line through Wild One, that does not appear to leave much between Love Struck and The Hangman, the problem with these interprovincial form comparisons is that there are many external factors influencing performance. These include left-handed versus right-handed tracks, pace and underfoot conditions.
Underrated – Black Toga will need to be at his best to trouble the top three in Saturday’s Gr1 CPYS Guineas
Drier Deal
Chave De Oura represents the high-riding Dennis Drier yard and the son of Jet Master is a winner of 3 of his 5 races. Jet Master won this event in 1998.
Chave De Oura won the Cape Classic run over 1400m at his penultimate start and may not have stayed the mile when setting the pace and fading late in the Selangor Cup. He finished a not-disgraced 2,15 lengths behind King Of Pain.
Jockey Sean Cormack, who is riding with such unfettered confidence at the moment, may not have many options with Chave De Oura from the 8 draw, but if the son of Jet Master is ridden with more restraint early and given a chance, he could well stay the mile.
Trainer Vaughan Marshall sent out the 2000 winner of this race in top current-day sire Captain Al and the Milnerton conditioner is represented by a coupling of Black Toga and Act Fast.
Black Toga, one of five Jooste owned horses in the field, is a winner of 4 of his 7 starts and made all at his last outing in an MR 94 Handicap run over 1400m, when winning with his ears pricked.
He could only manage a fifth in the Cape Classic at his penultimate start, but may have needed that run after a three month holiday following his excellent second 2,25 lengths behind The Hangman in the Premiers Champions Challenge.
Bass’ Best
Wisdom. Mike Bass would love to beat the young guns.
The Trippi colt Paterfamilias is probably the best of Mike Bass’ three runners and the son of Trippi has finally cracked a good draw.
He charged through late after having to switch when going fourth and 1,70 lengths behind King Of Pain in the Selangor Cup.
As observed by reader William Milkovitch (SP 1895), Paterfamilias produced a powerful finish there, although he does caution that the dawdle and dash syndrome of the Selangor may place question marks against the form.
Paterfamilias was poorly drawn in the Cape Classic and plodded into seventh behind Chave De Oura. He has won over a mile at Durbanville, and with some luck in running could be launching a serious challenge late in this event.
The Sophomore Sprint winner Tevez has pulled the worst of the draw and the jury is out as to whether the handsome son of Caesour actually stays the mile.
His run in the 1400m Cape Classic, when only 1,25 lengths off the winner, would suggest that sprinting is his preferred game.
Tevez was hanging at his last start when emphatically beaten 7,75 lengths by Cape Royal in a Graduation Plate over the Kenilworth 1200m. The pressure is on Tevez, whichever way we look at it.
Epic Tale is the least exposed of the Bass trio, but has won 2 of his 3 starts in workmanlike fashion. He beat a moderate mix of older horses in an MR 72 Handicap last time, but steps up to a mile here and should be even stronger as he goes further.
While only a one-time winner, Piet Steyn’s consistent Sanshaawes has proven his bona fides with excellent placed efforts in last season’s Langerman and when going down narrowly to Chave De Oura in the Cape Classic.
Sanshaawes was seen finishing strongly when a 2,10 length fifth to King Of Pain in the Selangor Cup. He has thus not disgraced himself, and is a likely good value place bet, Justin Snaith’s Unencumbered is yet to be exposed at this level, but won his post maiden start enextended over the course and distance in an MR 75 Handicap. He has to overcome the 11 draw and gets thrown in the deep end here.
Fascinating
Lurker? Dennis Drier’s classy Jet Master colt Chave De Oura destroyed his opponents in the Gr3 Cape Classic
The Guineas has all the makings of a fascinating tactical contest.
Two top local 3yo’s in King Of Pain and Capetown Noir have the undeniable advantage of their left-handed turn home base, and will be ridden by top riders who know their respective mounts well.
With the pace likely to be on, and a long run for home, the draw may be of less consequence.
But nerves will be tested as hitting the front too early could prove fatal.
We are going with Capetown Noir to give Kannemeyer yet another classic victory.
He is a narrow choice to beat King Of Pain and Black Toga – or even Chave De Oura to boost the trifecta.
But go with your heart and enjoy the ride!
A Legends Luncheon
will be hosted in the Peninsula Room by the sponsors of the Gr1 feature race at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The occasion celebrates a ‘Legend of the Turf’ and the Guest of Honour is the well-known breeder and former Cape racehorse trainer, the Hon Pat O’Neill of Broadlands Stud.
Booking is essential – please contact Amanda on 021 873 0734 or 082 465 4020 to reserve your table. Evening entertainment by Gabriel. A cash bar is available.
Cape Town Sales are also proudly hosting a ‘Charity Christmas Party’ on the front lawns for invited children from underprivileged backgrounds. Entrance to the track is free, but visitors have been requested to bring a wrapped gift for a child, marked with age and whether for a boy or girl. Any donations would also be appreciated.
The Hon Pat O’Neill will also be signing copies of her recently launched second book, A Chimpanzee In The Wine Cellar.
