Just a week after his son Search Party had gone end to end to win the Gr2 Cape Merchants down the Kenilworth straight, super sire Captain Al celebrated a repeat performance when his daughter Jo’s Bond did all the donkey work into the teeth of the South Easter to register a courageous victory in the R400 000 Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes.
Donovan Dillon keeps Jo’s Bond powering out front as Carry On Alice (S’manga Khumalo) and Scandal (Grant van Niekerk) are too late to peg her back (Pic – Wayne Marks)
The Klawervlei Stud-based Captain Al is enjoying another terrific season and after last Saturday’s Merchants 1st and 3rd finish, he went one better on the Western Cape Equine Trust raceday on Saturday with a cracking top two finish for himself and his home base, Klawervlei Stud.
The ten strong field looked to be dominated by two Gr1 stars – last year’s winner Carry On Alice and the SA Fillies Sprint champion, Real Princess.
Justin Snaith – surprise Gr2 win
But Justin Snaith and jockey Donovan Dillon were not going to be intimidated by impossible tasks on paper.
With Jo’s Bond easy to back at double figure odds after her lacklustre performance in the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes last time, and looking to have plenty to find at the weights, all the focus was on the top rated duo, with Carry On Alice going off at 15-10, despite her suspect fitness after a 27 week break.
Donovan Dillon had Jo’s Bond out quickly as she led Rock On Baby, Varumba and Victoria Lavelle, with S’manga Khumalo sheltering Carry On Alice from the wind a few lengths off down the outside.
Jo’s Bond hung on to her lead but looked dead and buried at the 350m as Carry On Alice stormed up the outside, with Scandal cutting a launch-pad down the middle.
Superstar Carry On Alice tried her heart out but had no answers to the superior fitness of the leader who dug deep.
Donovan Dillon – top ride
With Donovan Dillon keeping her beautifully balanced, Jo’s Bond kept on resolutely to score her biggest success to date to hold off Carry On Alice by a half length in a time of 59 secs.
Recent SA 1000m record holder Scandal was relaxed early and finished very well for third, a further 0,40 lengths in arrears.
Beach Goddess stuck to her station down the inside, but failed to produce her customary kick, holding on for fourth.
Second favourite Real Princess was always outpaced and ran no better than a 3,65 lengths fifth. She seems better at 1200m.
A R325 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate, Jo’s Bond was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is a daughter of Captain Al out of the unraced Muhtafal mare, Itlaaq.
The winner is a genuine 1000m specialist – all her 7 wins achieved over the minimum trip. She also has 2 places from her 16 starts and took her stakes tally to R542 525.
Carry On Alice must improve with the benefit of this run under the belt.
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Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 10, R400k, 1000m, turf, good, 59.59
1 – JO’S BOND (SAF), 58.0, b f 4, Captain Al (SAF) – Itlaaq (SAF) by Muhtafal (USA). Owner Messrs Anthony Attieh, J Chowles, M P van Tonder, N C Cooper, M A Govender, Graham Hurlestone-Jones, C S Shapiro & J B Zulch, M P Foulkes & Countes; Breeder Klawervlei Stud; trainer J Snaith; jockey D Dillon
2 – Carry On Alice (SAF), 60.0, b m 5, Captain Al (SAF) – Carry On Katie (SAF) by Western Winter (USA)
3 – Scandal (SAF), 58.0, ch f 4, Muhtafal (USA) – Lewinsky’s Lover (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
Margins: 0.50, 0.40, 0.75
