Laying Down The Law

Legislate and Richard Fourie taking it easy at the finish of the Gr2 KRA Guineas

Justin Snaith’s Dynasty colt Legislate again underlined his superiority over his rival Captain America when he ran out a facile winner under Richard Fourie of the R600 000 Gr2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on Saturday. The Investec Cape Derby winner cost just R100 000 at sale and has surely set the early bar for the 2014 Champions Season.

Things didn’t work out for the same trainer jockey combination with In The Fast Lane in the Fillies Guineas run a half hour earlier, but Fourie had all the time in the world to pose, salute and acknowledge the crowd as Legislate returned from a 13 week rest following his Cape Derby victory on Met day.

In what was close to the performance of the afternoon, the Cheveley Stud bred 3yo colt slammed a really decent field and set up his terrific sire for two of the three Champions Season feature accolades on the day.

Easy to back at 11 to 2 as they came for Captain America, Legislate was expected to need at least another 400m to show his best, but demonstrated his class by cleaning up over the mile.

The race went perfectly according to plan.

Vaughan Marshall’s Chestnut’s Rocket was looking for his fourth win on the trot and he led Gauteng visitor Chekilli  into the home run.

Justin Snaith has reason to smile

The top two faded quickly as Captain American and Legislate came forward together with the rest battling to find their feet.

In an inspiring display Legislate left Captain America for dead at the 300m marker and it was all over to Bezanova to dash through late and pick up the scraps.

Legislate went clear and won his third race by 3 lengths in a time of 94,14 secs.

The Bezrin gelding Bezanova was cut into on the right hind, but ran a cracker for second.

Captain America may have needed the outing but once again displayed the signs of a horse that may need 2000m plus by stalling in the final stages of the mile.

Top Jet also looks a Derby type and he snuck into fourth.

Geoff Woodruff’s filly Arcetri Pink was outplayed and ran closer to last, while Chekilli is patently a sprinter and does not get a mile,  as evidenced by his 16,75 length last.

Alec Laird would have been heartened by the lower rated Bezanova’s effort, but it will be back to the drawing board for Chekilli.

The stipes reported that Chekilli was blowing afterwards, while Alastair Gordon’s Copybook was examined by the Vet but nothing out of the ordinary was apparently found.

Winning jockey Richard Fourie admitted that just after the gates had opened it hadn’t been that easy (certainly as it looked from the stands!) to find his position.

Richard Fourie was a passenger for much of the journey

“Coming into the straight I allowed him to start stretching out.  He is a phenomenal horse and one of the better ones I have ever sat on,” he said.

Trainer Justin Snaith smelt blood with Harry Lime in last Sunday’s 2yo Scottsville feature and he looked as smug as a bug as he stepped up to be interviewed.

“When I galloped him here he showed that he is going to just love this course. He reminded me so much of Run For It as he tucked his head into his chest as he came around the bend during his gallop. Today when Richard (Fourie) moved him out after tracking Captain America, I knew that things were happening. I  must thank the owners. There have been plenty of offers but I really wanted to keep this horse,” he said.

We understand that Justin!

Legislate is looking cheap as a R100 000 buy by Dennis Evans on the National Yearling Sale.

He was bred by Cheveley Stud and is by Dynasty out of the four time winning Restructure mare, Champers. This mare only won up to 1200m and was no star.

Legislate, who races in the international Newbury Racing silks in a partnership that includes Jack Mitchell and Drakenstein Stud,  has now won 3 of his 9 starts with 4 places and took his stake earnings to a healthy R1 159 830.

Those astute enough to have included him in the Charity Turf Challenge permutations should be smiling.

*