Up The Hill. MJ Byleveld drives Hill Fifty Four ahead to win the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap run over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday
Vaughan Marshall’s Hill Fifty Four booked his J&B Met berth with a resounding victory from a wide draw in Saturday’s R300 000 Gr2 Peninsula Handicap run over 1800m in windless and sunny conditions at Kenilworth.
The son of Captain Al registered a hat-trick of wins after a terrific victory in the Gr3 Algoa Cup run at Fairview just over six weeks previously, and looks smoothly on track for a deserved run in the Met. And with Stan Elley’s Punta Arenas running a great second, it was heartening to see the winners of the past two Cape Winter Derby’s scrapping over a Gr2 prize in the heart of the Cape’s Sizzling Summer Season
The Jooste-owned Hill Fifty Four now has an impressive record of 6 wins, including two Gr3’s from his last 8 starts since shedding his maiden, and personifies the classic progressive below-the-radar profile of a well-placed horse.
Great ride! MJ Byleveld rode Hill Fifty Four
And all of the credit must go to the gelding’s Milnerton-based trainer Vaughan Marshall, who trained Captain Al to win the 2000 Cape Argus Guineas, as well as the Merchants and Diadem Stakes, in the pink and black Dos Santos silks.
A field of fourteen went to post with the Glen Kotzen-trained mare Queen’s Command playing the pacemaking role for her stablemates Political Playboy and Cash Register, as she set a solid gallop ahead of Hammie’s Dynasty and Hill Fifty Four. Taipan was a lot more enthusiastic after his last dismal effort, ahead of Punta Arenas and Brown Penny.
Political Playboy, Cask and Nysean Bolt were near the rear in the early stages.
Turning For home Queen’s Command continued to gallop with Hammie’s Dynasty the first to challenge ahead of Hill Fifty Four, who was switched out and started charging forward.
With Hill Fifty Four running on strongly, the Elley-trained Punta Arenas and the tote favourite Jet Explorer unleashed their respective bursts.
As Black Wing scythed through from way back, the tension-filled charge for the line saw Hill Fifty Four stay on best at 6-1 under a left- handed ride from regular pilot MJ Byleveld, to beat the 22-1 Punta Arenas by 1,25 lengths in a time of 110,44 secs.
It was a win full of merit from the 15 draw, from the 4yo who had been well ridden and in touch for most of the trip.
Trophy Time. Tom Fowler presents the winning trainer trophy to Vaughan Marshall
Black Wing improved nicely and put his head down for third and held a flying Jet Explorer, while Glen Kotzen’s mare Cash Register ran a cracker for fifth, and should be watched next time against her own sex.
The disappointments of the race, particularly with a view to the Met, must include Hammie’s Dynasty, who looked dangerous but went flat late in the race to run a 3,60 length sixth.
Dean Kannemeyer’s Taipan was another who appeared to have every chance and was far more high-profile than he usually is, but fizzled on the rail to run a 4.75 length ninth.
One has to feel for trainer Greg Ennion, who is known to hold the 2011 Winter Derby winner Nysean Bolt in high esteem.
After blaming the jockey last time for a poorly judged ride, he had to watch the frustrating 5yo lose many lengths at the start. He finished a 13,40 length last.
The Klawervlei Stud-bred Hill Fifty Four is a gelded son of Captain Al out of the five-time winning Sportsworld mare, Sports Dance.
Hill Fifty Four boasts a top-class record of 6 wins and 3 places from his 11 starts for stakes of R624 310.
Pencil his name in!
