Names like Captain’s Lover and Ebony Flyer flashed through the memory as we watched Justin Snaith’s super smart 3yo Captain’s Ransom make short work of her opponents in Saturday’s R500 000 Gr1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth.
The Cape Fillies Guineas winner was backed into the red to win one of three Gr1’s on the big day, and duly delivered a second Gr1 success for owner Suzette Viljoen, who enjoyed a terrific Met day as her staying stalwart Atyaab won the New Turf Carriers Gr2 Western Cape Stayers a few hours later.
Richard Fourie poses as Captain’s Ransom comes home lonely (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Jockey Richard Fourie described Captain’s Ransom as, ‘the real deal, phenomenal and deserving of being called a champion’ after she reeled in proven Gr1 star Clouds Unfold, who was on a Majorca hat-trick, in the final stages, before going on to a facile 3,25 length win in 97,92 secs.
In so doing, she became the seventh 3yo winner of the Majorca in eleven runnings of the prestigious contest.
Trainer Justin Snaith said of the rising star, who has only been beaten once in her six starts:
“She recovers immediately, breathing goes back to normal, just no stress at all…”
Captain’s Ransom, a R225 000 ticket from the 2019 National Yearling Sale, took her stakes bank R775 875 with her fifth win in six starts. She has never missed the cash.
She became her multiple champion sire Captain Al’s 24th individual Gr1 winner when she won the Cape Fillies Guineas back in December. Bred by Moutonshoek she is out of the unraced Red Ransom mare Cinna’s Ransom. The latter, dam of multiple winners in Britain, is a half-sister to Gr3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Black Rock Desert and multiple Japanese stakes winner Toyo Seattle.Cinna’s Ransom’s own dam, the Plankton Stakes winner, City Dance is a full-sister to multiple Gr1 winner, and successful sire, Slew City Slew.
