Chase Maujean and Roman Carnival are clear of the Gr3 August Stakes field (JC Photos)
The Windrush gelding Roman Carnival is one of the fastest improving horses in training and set himself up for a major paydate on the Vaal sand at the end of September, when skating home an easy winner of Saturday’s R250 000 Gr3 August Stakes.
Stephen Moffatt – looking at a supreme birthday celebration?
Trainer Stephen Moffatt celebrates his 44th birthday just three days prior to the final curtain call of Africa’s richest race on sand, which is being run on Saturday 26 September.
And after Roman Carnival’s eyecatching career peak victory, it could be a week of major celebrations down at the Vaal for Owen Sim’s talented former assistant.
While it probably has little to do with the imminent closure of the Vaal sand, there are few sand standouts as we count down to the Gr2 Supreme Cup presented by SAP.
And Roman Carnival looks to just need a touch of luck with a half reasonable draw to count himself a massive runner. From a 4 barrier gate on Saturday, Roman Carnival tracked Velvet Verona and Isphan from a decent jump and hit the front on the seemingly superior going in the centre of the track at the 300m marker.
Chase Maujean – big winner
Under a confident ride by the underrated Chase Maujean, Roman Carnival galloped strongly and drew clear to easily hold off the improved again Isphan. He walloped the Azzie sprinter by 4,25 lengths and clocked 72,21 secs for the 1200m.
The favourite Doing It For Dan was never really in the hunt but stayed on for an honest enough third, to maintain his consistent form profile. Jockey Piere Strydom was stood down after the race.
Sean Tarry’s mare Jade Vine snatched fourth place.
He more than doubled his stakes earnings to R288 875 when he sauntered home at 12/1, on something of a less-than-super Saturday for punters – with knockout results the order of the day. While he carried bottomweight on Saturday, and enjoyed the run of the race, the unexposed Roman Carnival looks the real deal on the sand, and he has certainly brightened the Super Supreme Series – where he now stands in line to collect the R100 000 bonus payable to any horse who can win the last two legs.
The first leg winner Varbration did not run here.
The Normandy-bred Roman Carnival is by Windrush out of the now deceased two-time winning Special Preview mare, Special Series. The dam also produced two decent winners in Ryder Cup (Victory Moon), who won 11 races, and Sermon (Lecture), who won 5.
Veronica Foulkes of Normandy Stud said that she was thrilled for owners Michael and Brian Miskin. “I remember him as a big impressive yearling – a really lovely youngster. But there was little demand for the Windrush colts and I am thrilled that the Miskins kept and raced him. I hear the Vaal sand is closing and that is a bit of a pity,” she said.
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Gr3 August Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Vaal, South Africa, August 29, R250k, 1200m, sand, good, 1.12.21
1 – ROMAN CARNIVAL (SAF), 52.0, b g 4, Windrush (USA) – Special Series (SAF) by Special Preview (SAF). Owner Messrs B E Miskin & M E Miskin; Breeder Normandy Stud; trainer S Moffatt; jockey C Maujean
2 – Isphan (SAF), 55.5, b g 4, Tiger Ridge (USA) – Queen Of Persia (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
3 – Doing It For Dan (SAF), 58.0, b g 4, Windrush (USA) – Wrapped In Clover (USA) by Mt Livermore (USA)
Margins: 4.25, 2.75, 0.80
